The Bishop of the Diocese of Kigezi, Rt. Rev. Gaddie Akanjuna, today urged parents and guardians to take action against the practice of allowing their children to miss school, emphasizing that this behaviour hinders academic performance.
These remarks were made during the commissioning of a new four-classroom block, staff room, and headteacher’s office at Kizinga Primary School in Kizinga Parish, Kaharo Sub County, Kabale District. The construction, valued at over 400 million shillings, was funded by a generous donation from Joab Tumuranze Okanyima, a public accountant and resident of Kizinga Parish.
Bishop Gaddie highlighted the detrimental habit of keeping children home for household chores instead of sending them to school. He expressed his concern over the painful realization that a child’s poor academic performance could be attributed to their parents’ decisions to prioritize labour over education.
“It’s disheartening to discover that at the end of the term, your child has failed their exams, only to realize that the reason behind their struggles was the parent or guardian who kept them working in the garden instead of attending school,” he stated.
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He called on parents to work diligently to provide for their children’s education and encouraged students to dedicate themselves to their studies, so they can eventually contribute positively to their families.
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Peter Ampurira, the headteacher of Kizinga Primary School urged parents and guardians to stop allowing their children to miss school. He noted that when asked about their absences, many children respond that they were kept home to work in the garden, a practice that often leads to academic failure.
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Moses Tumwijukye Bwengye, the Education Officer for Kabale District, also warned parents and guardians against permitting their children to miss classes, stating that the district expects excellent academic performance from Kizinga Primary School.
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