Buhweju district leaders have blamed government for the poor performance of schools in the district.
The District Education Officer Beatrice Tusiime last Sunday decried the low performance of students and pupils as reflected in the recently released national exams.
Speaking at an event held to award the district’s 28 pupils who passed in first grade in PLE, the DEO pointed out lack of sufficient teachers in the district as the main cause of poor academic performance.
She cited the example of Butare Secondary School which has only 12 teachers instead of 42.
The low staffing she said is exacerbated by the absenteeism of both teachers and pupils due to domestic challenges including poverty and overdrinking.
At the event, the Buhweju Woman MP Olive Katwesigye Koyekyenga said that despite government’s efforts to give the girl child education first priority, the district is yet to see the fruits of these efforts.
“Out of 28 pupils awarded for scoring first grade, there are only 6 girls,” she said.
Buhweju MP Francis Mwijukye promised to investigate the issue of understaffing in Buhweju district to ascertain whether it affects the district alone.
The leaders awarded 28 pupils who passed in first grade out of 1628 pupils who sat PLE examinations in the district. These were awarded with scholastic materials such as books, pens and beddings among others.