Lira, Uganda | City Pearl Junior School headteacher Robert Obene has urged parents to start preparing early for the third term, saying timely payment of school fees will help prevent learners from dropping out.
Obene said the second term progressed well, with all planned school activities implemented smoothly. However, he noted that failure by some parents to raise school fees remained a major challenge, forcing some learners to drop out of school.
He called on parents to save whatever they can during the holiday to ensure their children return to school when the third-term academic calendar begins. He also urged them to closely monitor their children at home and discourage them from loitering.
Obene further asked parents to ensure learners complete their holiday packages, saying the recently released Lira City PLE mock results had helped the school identify areas where its primary seven candidates performed poorly. He said teachers would focus on those weaknesses to improve learners’ performance.
Meanwhile, City Pearl principal director Elwelu Emmanuel said the school participated in the 2026 Lira City PLE Mock Assessment for the first time, competing against 118 schools and ranking 42nd in the city. He said one of the school’s 10 candidates attained Division One, while the other nine obtained Division Two.
Elwelu described the performance as a major milestone for a school that has existed for only two terms. He said the school aims to become one of the leading education centres in the Lango Sub-region while maintaining affordable fees, supported by experienced teachers and academic directors.
He said the school places emphasis on academic and spiritual development and regularly engages parents through meetings to discuss learners’ progress and strengthen academic standards. The school currently has 160 pupils in the nursery section and 264 in primary and is located at Olando Trading Centre behind Omodo Market in Lira City West Division.
Elsewhere, Rapha Secondary School headteacher Obonyo Jimmy urged parents to use the holiday to monitor their children’s movements, support their studies, and expose them to practical skills. Speaking during a talent show at Buluge Comprehensive Secondary School on Thursday, August 13, 2026, Obonyo said the competency-based curriculum requires learners to develop practical abilities alongside academic knowledge. He also cited drought, economic hardships and concerns over the Ebola outbreak as challenges affecting some families’ ability to pay school fees. Rapha has about 520 students, while Buluge has about 850, with both schools offering arts and science courses.