School dropout identified as leading education challenge in Kiryandongo

Kiryandongo: School dropout has been identified as the biggest challenge affecting the education sector in Kiryandongo District. The concern was raised during the launch of education projects worth over 1.17 billion shillings, aimed at improving learning conditions across several schools in the district.

Authorities noted that the girl child is the most affected, with worrying statistics emerging from different schools. At Alerotinga Primary School in Nyamahasa Sub-county, only six girls completed Primary Seven this year. In 2024, just one girl completed P7, and she was reportedly impregnated before joining Senior One.

Speaking during the project launch at Bweyale Public Primary School, Kiryandongo District Chairperson LC V, Aliguma Edith Adyeri, said the new projects include the construction of classroom blocks and staff quarters.

She noted that these interventions will greatly ease teaching and learning conditions in the targeted institutions. Aliguma also called on education stakeholders and the wider community to take an active role in monitoring the progress of the projects being implemented in their respective localities.

At the same event, Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Dan Muganga urged contractors to adhere to project timelines and ensure value for money. He advised them to use locally available materials to promote community participation and economic benefits.

Muganga further appealed to parents to ensure their children start and complete the full education cycle, stressing that education remains the strongest pathway out of poverty.

Meanwhile, Bweyale Town Council Vice Chairperson LC III, Magret Akello Okello, reiterated that school dropout remains a major challenge across the district.

Kiryandongo’s education sector continues to struggle with overcrowding. The district’s classroom-to-pupil ratio stands at 1:84, far above the recommended 1:53. In some schools, like Bweyale Public Primary School, the situation is even worse, with ratios reaching 1:114. This highlights the urgent need for improved infrastructure to accommodate the growing number of learners, including refugees.

Through this strategic investment in educational infrastructure, Kiryandongo District hopes not only to improve learning environments but also to lay a stronger foundation for a brighter future for its children.

Additional reporting by Denis Agaba

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