Ministry Of Education, Save The Children Launch Countrywide Back To School Campaign
By Uganda Online Media
President Yoweri Museveni has appointed Maj Tom Magambo who has been in the Internal Security Organisations(ISO) as the new police Criminal Investigations Director.
“President Museveni has promoted Private Tom Magambo to the rank of Major and appointed him Director Criminal Investigations of the Uganda Police Force,” the acting UPDF spokesperson, Lt Col Ronald Kakurungu said in a statement.
Kampala: Ministry of education and sports together with Save the Children, an organization that deals with children have launched a nationwide back-to-school campaign aimed at ensuring that all learners return to schools.
According to a statement from the Ministry of education, the campaign will be supported by the government and partners across Uganda to ensure that every child goes back to school safely.
“Save the Children believes that all children deserve the right to education, health and protection including refugees, child mothers and children with disabilities. Learning and going to school is the most important activity in a child’s life. It prepares them for the world of work, brings hope and dignity to children and their families, and it opens doors to a prosperous life filled with knowledge, experiment, and wonder,” Save the Children said in a statement.
The campaign will encourage parents, guardians and caregivers to take all their children back to school following the country-wide reopening of schools that kicked off earlier this week.
When Covid-19 broke out in early 2020, Public institutions including schools in Uganda and the rest of the world were closed and Uganda has had the longest closure time leading to an unprecedented crisis in the education sector.
Various reports indicated an increase in child protection cases across the country during the close to two years of school closure.
Click Here To Read Full Statement From Ministry Of Education
Statistics from the National Child Helpline Sauti 116, indicate an increase in cases of violence against children during the various lockdowns.
For example, from April to September 2020, cases of violence against children increased from 2400 to 5000 cases as reported by the National Child Help Line.
Over 100,000 teenage mothers are on the verge of never returning to school if no critical interventions are put in check to encourage them to do so and boys and girls who began work to help contribute to their family income may also never return to school.
“All children have the opportunity to go back to school today. If you are a child with a disability, you have the right and the opportunity to go back to school, the school is there to support you. If you are a child who has been working, you can go back to school. If you are a young woman who has had a child, you have the right to go back to school today. The education system in Uganda is there to support you,” said Bev Roberts-Reite, the Director of Programme Development and Quality at Save the Children.
He said every child has the right to education whereas Uganda has pledged to uphold this through Articles 28 and 29 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
