Legislators from both the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party and various opposition parties have urged the government to implement a policy for free compulsory boarding school education.
This call was made during the Northern Regional Plenary Sitting held on August 30, 2024 in Gulu.
Achia Remigio, the MP for Pian County in Karamoja, presented a motion highlighting the region’s educational challenges, including the absence of a school feeding policy, long distances students must travel to access schools, and high poverty rates that hinder parents from providing necessary scholastic materials.
“Karamoja has 1.4 million people as per the 2024 Census, yet 66% of the population lacks any form of education,” Remigio stated, calling for the urgent need for intervention.
The MP pointed out that high dropout rates in the region are often linked to children’s responsibilities in defending family cattle, which can lead to death during conflicts. He noted that the persistent insecurity in Karamoja is closely tied to its low education levels and widespread household poverty.
According to Remigio, the primary school dropout rates have resulted in a poor secondary school gross enrollment rate of only 19%, with an adult literacy rate of just 25%, which is lower than the national average of 73%. He expressed concern that many dropouts are recruited into criminal activities, including cattle rustling and armed violence, while female dropouts often face early marriages and motherhood, contributing to alarming maternal and child mortality rates in the region.
Faith Nakut, the district woman representative for Napak, seconded the motion, stressing that women bear the brunt of household welfare in Karamoja. She advocated for the government to provide free and compulsory boarding school education, arguing that investment in education directly contributes to national economic growth and regional stability.
Remigio highlighted that previous government initiatives, such as Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE), had led to a 7% increase in literacy rates for boys between 2016 and 2020. However, the rate for girls only improved by 1.3%, with a mere 12% of girls progressing to secondary school.
The parliamentary regional sitting, chaired by Deputy Speaker Thomas Teyebwa, has entered its third day of plenary sessions, focusing on critical issues affecting the region.
As discussions continue, the legislators remain hopeful that the proposed education policy will pave the way for improved literacy and social stability in Karamoja.