

4 February 2025, 9:17 am
By Stanley Ebele
As schools open for the first term, enrollment is significantly low in schools across Kotido District, with some schools registering no attendance at all on the first day.
Enrollment was low across all schools in both the municipality and the district, according to a small random survey conducted by Etoil A Karamoja.
There was no immediate explanation for the low turn ups but most head teachers said the practice is habitual.
In some municipal schools, only about 1% of the total enrollment reported to school. At Kotido Mixed Primary School, only 28 out of over 1,000 pupils, according to the records, turned up for classes.
At Panyangara and Kotido Girls’ Primary Schools, fewer than 30 pupils attended school on Monday. At Losakucha Primary School, only 24 pupils reported. According to school administrators, lessons could not commence as the numbers were far too low compared to the class sizes.
The headteacher of Kotido Mixed Primary School, Loteem Peter Lomongin, said attendance at his school was extremely low. However, he stated that lessons would begin immediately to ensure teachers cover the syllabus.
At Panyangara SS, no students attended school throughout the day, despite more than half of the teachers being present. Simon Acoma, the Director of Studies, stated that teachers had been at school since morning, but to their surprise, no students reported.
He called on stakeholders in the education sector to strategise on mobilization efforts to increase enrolment and retention in schools.
This academic year, Kotido RDC Charles Ichogor pledged earlier this year to start engaging political leaders and technical authorities at the parish and sub-county levels to raise awareness about the importance of education.
In Abim, enrolment was on average, according to the Senior Inspector of Schools, Margaret Auma, and lessons had begun.