The Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Kataha Museveni, has stated that the government cannot afford to take on the responsibility of sustaining students in boarding schools.
Despite calls from parents and community leaders to build dormitories in government-aided and founded schools to address the issue of girl students dropping out, Museveni emphasized that the cost of managing boarding sections is too high for the government to bear.
Speaking at the launch of the founders’ day of Samson Kalibbala Memorial Seed Secondary School in Rakai district, Mrs. Museveni explained that the government operates on the policy of having public primary and secondary schools at the parish and sub-county levels, respectively.
This approach allows for shared responsibilities between parents and the government in taking care of children, instead of placing the burden solely on the government, which faces numerous competing demands.
The Education Minister also noted that the government has been struggling to provide meals to students in public schools, and introducing boarding sections would add to the challenges of sustainability.
She urged communities to commit to taking care of the social needs of children in schools if they want the Ministry of Education to consider policy revisions.
The request for dormitories at Samson Kalibbala Memorial Seed Secondary School was made to address the high dropout rates among female students who face long distances while walking to school. Many of these girls are at risk of early marriages and pregnancies, and the lack of suitable accommodations has been a major factor in their struggles to continue their education.
In the meantime, Mrs. Museveni called on parents and community leaders to combat any factors that hinder students from completing their education, emphasizing the importance of education in improving students’ lives.