Oyam, Uganda – A report from the Oyam District Education Department has revealed that most children dropping out of primary school come from families where parents also dropped out in the past and are unable to support their children’s education.
This issue was discussed during a meeting on Thursday, organized by Foundation Inclusive Community Help (FICH) Uganda, which brought together 26 headteachers from primary schools benefiting from the FICH program that supports girls’ education through mentorship and skill-building.
According to the headteachers, many children follow in their parents’ footsteps by leaving school early.
Alex Owiny Foster, headteacher of Ariek Primary School, stated that parents are to blame for the dropout crisis because they do not provide academic support, making school dropout a recurring cycle in many families.
However, Robert Ogwal, a parent from Angolo Primary School in Otwal Sub-county, disagreed.
He argued that parents have different financial capacities, and some struggle to afford school costs, which forces children out of school.
He also noted that some parents lack awareness of the value of education.
Achol Jenet, the Senior Inspector of Schools in Oyam District, criticized both parents and school management committees for not taking full responsibility for keeping children in school.
She warned that neglecting these responsibilities contributes to the high dropout rate.
The district is yet to release official statistics on last year’s school dropout rates.
However, it was noted that rural areas have higher dropout rates due to agricultural labor, early marriages and negative attitudes towards education.
In urban areas, dropouts are often linked to business activities, as parents send children to work on the streets instead of attending school.