By Alex Baluku
KASESE: At least ten parents from Kabirizi Parish in Lake Katwe Sub-county, Kasese district were Tuesday arrested and later released with caution for allegedly failing to send their children to school.
Wilson Asiimwe, the Lake Katwe Sub-county L. C III Chairperson said he decided to carry out the operation of arresting the children who have not yet returned to school and their parents after realizing that the turn-up was still very low in some schools in the area.
During the operation, many of the children were found with their parents while harvesting cotton and maize. Jackson Niwagyira, the area chairperson Kabirizi village said they have done their part of sensitizing the parents to send their children to school but in vain.
Zephanus Kisembo, a father of four who was arrested with one of his children while picking cotton claimed that the rest had returned to school but the one remaining had no uniform and therefore they were looking for money to procure a school uniform for him.
When www.ugreports.com visited Kabirizi Primary School, it discovered that out of 245 learners, only 126 had turned up.
Wilson Baluku, the head teacher Kabirizi Primary School revealed that even those who have so far returned school report late for classes, stressing that their parents first send them to the cattle farms and gardens noting that others report to school without books and pens.
Meanwhile, Parents in the district have been encouraged to always provide enough scholastic materials and other requirements to their children for effective learning.
The South Rwenzori Diocesan Education Secretary, the Rev. Asa Masereka Kiryaghe cited the need for the parents to use the reopening of schools as an opportunity for them to send their children back to school and provide the required scholastic materials to them as the only means of ensuring that the learners stay in school and complete their education.
