The growing numbers of children absconding from free primary education and child marriages in Lira, Uganda, are the basis on which councilors of Bar sub-county initiated stringent by-laws.
Six months since the passing of the laws, there has been a tremendous change. More residents are engaging in developmental activities like constructing teachers’ houses and pit latrines.
The by-laws addressed constraints to the implementation of the universal primary education. They are: Poor sanitation, lack of teachers’ houses and water scarcity.
Pupils found it difficult to use the pit latrines, which were in bad state. The pupils had to walk for three miles to get water, which had forced many of them to abandon school.
Teachers were often late because they live far from the schools and as a result, the pupils failed because they had not completed the syllabus.
Tonny Ateng, the councilor for Alebere parish, says the harsh conditions in the internally displaced peoples camp derailed development in the area. Many parents were reluctant to take part in putting up teachers’ houses and pit latrines, developing water sources and sending their children to school until the by-laws were passed and enforced.
Thomas Akaa, the Bar LC3 chairman, says the by-laws prohibit elders from presiding over a marriage of a child below 18 years. The laws also bar parents or guardians from keeping a child below 18 years out of school.
A parent who does not take his/her child to school pays a fine of USH 15,000, while one who refuse to contribute towards the building of the teachers houses and pit latrines pays USH 5,000. S/he is forced to buy scholastic materials for the child.
Parents whose children are not in school are fined of USH 15,000 and the leaders take the child away. They also force the parent to buy basic necessities like books and uniforms.
At Obot Primary School, parents constructed 17 teachers’ houses. When the wind blew off the roofs of some classrooms in Ajia Primary School, parents contributed USH 1.2 million to have them replaced. Parents of children in Alabere Primary School built four semi-permanent houses for teachers and four pit latrines.
“I encourage other sub-counties and neighbouring districts to borrow a leaf from our work. It pays,” Akaa says. (New Vision, Uganda)