In short
Kajura says that the survey found out the pupils and students dropped out for trekking long distances to access schools, early marriages and poverty at homes.
At least 69 percent of pupils enrolled in Nakasongola primary schools have dropped out before completing primary seven putting the district into further ignorance.
A report released by Nakasongola District Education officer George William Kajura indicates that out of 11,765 pupils enrolled in primary One in 2006, only 3,655 pupils sat for Primary Leaving Education in 2012.
Kajura explains that out of 2048 students that were registered in Senior One in 2007, only 919 (45 %) sat for Uganda Certificate Education in 2011 and the 1129 (55 %) dropped out.
Kajura says that the survey found out the pupils and students dropped out because schools were too far away from them, early marriages and poverty at home.
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Kajura says that the high rate drop out of learners costs the Ministry of Education millions of shillings in resources that it had already invested in them through Universal Primary Education and Uinversal Secondary Education programmes.
He appeals to Ministry of Education to consider building more schools closer to communities. and local leaders alongside police help in fight against early marriages.
The Nakasongola District Chairman James Wandira says that they are considering a bylaw that will penalize parents whose children drop out of school without sound reasons.
But the parents in Nakasongola say they have withdrawn their children from schools in Nakasongola due to lack of teachers and poor performance issues which the Ministry of Education should address.
Fredrick Bandumba resident in Kalungi Sub County says that pupils in Nakasongola are like visitors in schools because teachers abandoned work over pay and they resolved to take to other nearby districts.
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Margaret Kisakye a resident in Migyera town council says that the schools are also lacking facilities that include buildings and toilets which have scared them from taking students in such environment.
Pupils who preferred anonymity also supported thier parents claiming the education standards in district cannot enable them reach greater heights in the country and they prefer studying in nearby districts.
In 2011 it was reported that more than 100 teachers resigned from their duties over poor renumeration and standard.
According to a report released in 2010 by United Nation Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on school dropouts in Uganda,100% of pupils enrolled in Primary one in Uganda only 25% manage to complete primary seven and school dropout is higher in primary than secondary schools.
