School Fees Push Primary Pupils Out of Classrooms in Rukungiri District

Rukungiri: Primary school pupils in Rukungiri District, especially in Bwambara Sub-County, are increasingly dropping out of school due to failure by parents to meet school requirements and fees. Many of these children are instead assisting their parents with domestic work.

During interactions with several school dropouts in Bwambara Sub-County, our news reporter spoke to children from villages including Bwerondo, Kinyamatojo, Ihendamata, and Nyabubare in Nyabubare Parish; Nyarwimuka, Nyakarambi, and Kagati in Kakoni Parish; and Kateramo, Kempazi, Rushararazi, and Mironzi in Kikongi Parish. Other affected areas include Kikarara and Kyabahanga parishes.

The children, whose identities have been withheld due to their age, said they dropped out of school after their parents failed to raise money required by public schools to facilitate morning and evening lessons as well as mid-term examinations. They added that they now engage in domestic activities such as farming and guarding gardens from destruction by wild animals and birds from Queen Elizabeth National Park.

One of the pupils, aged 13, from Omukashenyi Trading Centre in Garuka Parish, Bwambara Sub-County, said he dropped out of school while in Primary Three. He explained that pupils below Primary Three were paying UGX 30,000, while those in Primary Four and above were required to pay UGX 50,000. He said his mother asked him to stop schooling after failing to raise fees for Primary Four, noting that she has six children to support.

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The LC I NRM Chairperson of Kinyamatojo Cell in Nyabubare Parish, Medard Tumushabe, said many children in the area have dropped out of school and are now engaged in activities such as construction work. He blamed the situation on the effects of COVID-19 and government neglect, particularly delays and imbalances in teachers’ salaries. Tumushabe said that arts teachers in primary schools are poorly paid compared to science teachers, which affects their morale and commitment to pupils.

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The LC III Chairperson of Bwambara Sub-County, Christopher Kagayano, noted that some parents, especially men, have also contributed to school dropouts by prioritizing marrying multiple wives over investing in their children’s education. He said this has left many families unable to meet basic school requirements.

The Secretary for Education, Cledonia Musimenta, emphasized that parents have a responsibility to support their children’s education. She urged LC I chairpersons to closely monitor households and take action against child neglect.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Wilberforce Ahibisibwe Ongom, said government schools are free and parents should prioritize educating their children. He added that in some cases, school dropouts result from children’s stubbornness or refusal to help with household chores, which leads some parents to ignore their education.

Cue in…… Ongom…… RR // ENG