By Muhumuza Jimmy
Kampala
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, has expressed great concerns over the worrying trend of school dropout rate in the country at all levels which currently stands at 31%, and reiterated a need to ban all kinds of school fees levied on learners in public schools and promises to expel head teachers who defy the order or they go and start their schools.
Nabbanja was presiding over a graduation of over 600 students at Makerere Business School in Kampala.
While officiating at the graduation of Makerere Business Institute- MBI in Kampala, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja noted with concern the increased cases of school dropouts saying it’s a big challenge to the Government. She noted that at all levels the school dropout rate has escalated to 31% which is a worrying trend.
Nabbanja attributed the upsurge to numerous charges that administrators in public schools have introduced, thus making life difficult for parents and learners in School. She reiterated the next cause of action by the government to ban all fees levied against learners in public schools.
Nabbanja pledged on behalf of the government to assist private academic institutions that are struggling with the effects of COVID-19. This was after an outcry by the director of Makerere Business Institute Hon Nathan Itungo who doubles as the Kashari South Legislator who sought government intervention into the situation of struggling private institutions to COVID-19-induced effects.
Itungo called on the government to scale up the bracket of beneficiaries of the Parish Development Model and Emyooga programs to include students in Higher institutions of Learning. He wants part of the funds to be made available for students to borrow and pay school fees since the Students Loan Scheme is now struggling with funding shortages.
Prof Mondo Kagonyera, a renowned academician, challenged graduates to take advantage of resources in Africa to develop, based on the knowledge acquired from the institute. Kagoyera wondered how Africa, the richest continent in terms of resources, can be the poorest in development.
