By Simon Turibamwe
Every time UCE and UACE results are released, Kasese district hopes to find its self among the top 10 best performers but for decades, it has remained a dream. This has been a concern to every educationist and stakeholder in education to know why this bigger district with three cultural institutions and well facilitated secondary schools ranks not among the best. Upon the release of 2018 results in 2019, the performance debate attracted mixed reactions, concluding that the district continues to score badly in “O” and “A” level examinations.
Many agreed that for one more century Kasese will never rank among the top 10 or best performers, reasoning that both the parents and local leadership have contributed to the failure. Eric Mwesige Erikangyero a top journalist in the area said that it is an intention of parents in the area to see the district doing Badly, because they don’t admit their best PLE performing children Kasese secondary schools. “What do you expect on “O” Level when you are seeing all parents sending their best performing children to schools outside Kasese district?” Asked Erikangyero. Mwebaze Laban the head teacher at mother care preparatory school a leading private primary school in the area adds that it has been hard for him to track old pupils of the school in Kasese secondary schools but they are always the best performers in other districts where they go. Mwebaze noted that: “All those best schools known for better performance including Namagunga, Immaculate heart, St. Mary’s Kitende and Mary hill without forgetting Kyebambe in Fort portal admits almost three thirds of our PLE stars, then Kasese admits the rejects.” George Mahinja the district Education officer reveals that attempts to have the parents keep children in Kasese district for secondary education have yielded nothing, as both parents and students believe they only perform well outside Kasese. “Whenever we tell parents to give us children, they will ask us to first score against Bweranyangi in Bushenyi or Mary hill in Mbarara, but we are challenged because all our PLE stars are taken out of the district,” Says Mahinja. He further noted Kasese’s secondary schools are doing well depending on what they admit for senior one and five. “what do you expect to get from a student who scores aggregate 4 in PLE and is taken to Mary hill and that one who scores 21 and is admitted at Kasese secondary school? This means the teachers who pulls this child from aggregate 21 in PLE to score 27 in UCE at Kasese secondary school has performed well and the credit goes to my teacher.” Mahinja asserts. Godfrey Kabyanga, the mayor Kasese municipality adds that: “there is a need for everyone in the district to start thinking of promoting good performances in Kasese right from nursery to secondary schools, if the district is to shine among the best.” He said that it is shameful to see the children crossing all boarders to seek education and yet there are no students coming to Kasese as if for them have no schools. He headed that the only solution is to encourage children right away from Nursery to maintain love for the area but not sending them away. For comments, call or text us on 0752510225.
