Tolit Ivan, Ojok Micheal & Agency
Parents in Acholi sub region are yet to start appreciating sending their children to school on the first day of the start of a new term as first term school calendar starts today, a vice that hinders learning and leads to poor performance, especially in national examinations.
While teachers largely reported for duty and schools opened as scheduled, the low turnout of pupils affected the smooth start of the school calendar.
Reports from multiple districts indicate that only a small fraction of enrolled learners turned up on the first day of term, less than 10%.
In Gulu District, Cwero Primary school registered only 26 out of the total enrollment of 1,266 learners.19 teachers out of 26 were also at school.
At Kalamaji Primary School, only 18 out of 490 learners reported to school. 5 teachers out of 10 were at school.
At Palaro seed secondary school, only 68 out of 287 learners reported to school while at Oywak Primary School 112 out of 502 learners reported to school.
Harriet Atim, the Gulu district Education Officer, said a team is on the ground to assess the situation.
A similar situation was also registered in Omoro district.
At Dino Primary school 66 out of 802 learners reported to school today, 94 out of 519 reported to school at Awali Primary school, 156 out of 381 reported to school at Acet parents while 17 out of 255 learners reported to school at Kal kweyo.
Okello Douglas Peter Okao, the Omoro District LCV Chairperson, said 95% of the 48,000 learners registered in the district are still at home.
Schools in Amuru District also registered extremely low turn up of leaners to school on Tuesday. Close to 90% of the learners were still at home.
At Pabo Primary school, 79 out of 2000 reported to school, 65 out of 2000 reported to school at Amuru Lamogi primary school, 20 out of 500 reported to school at Bibia Primary school, 28 out of 600 reported to school at Palukere primary school, 54 out of 700 reported to school at Lalem primary school, 24 out of 560 reported at Jimo Primary school while 126 out of 917 reported to Okidi primary school.
Akera Aggrey Keith, the Secretary Education Amuru district, attributes the low turn up to changes in the date for school reopening.
In Gulu City, delayed pupil turnout remains a persistent challenge, particularly in public schools.
At Holy Rosary Primary School in the Laro-Pece Division, pupil turnout was visibly very low early in the morning.
City Inspector of Schools Proscovia Aber Aber appealed to parents to send children early, warning that late reporting disrupts curriculum delivery.
In Kitgum District, at Kitgum Prison Primary School, only 117 of 700 pupils had reported by mid-morning.
Headteacher Patrick Kilama Otika said: “Most parents prefer to send children to secondary or distant schools first, before primary school pupils.
Other districts continued to see sparse attendance. At Oyam Town Council’s Awelobuturyo P.7 School, only 78 of over 1,000 learners were present by 10 am.
Late reporting to school in Uganda is a persistent issue where leaners, particularly at the start of a new term, delay their return.
The Ministry of Education warns against late reporting, emphasizing that it hinders learning and leads to poor performance, especially in national examinations.
Main factors include delayed payment of school fees, domestic chores, lack of school requirements, and poor attitudes towards education.
Chronic late reporting disrupts the school calendar, reduces syllabus coverage, and contributes to low performance in national exams.
