More than 51,000 children of school-going age are currently unaccounted for in Agago district’s formal education system, prompting district authorities to order parents and guardians to ensure they return to school when the third term begins on September 14.
The concern follows an analysis of the district’s school-age population and enrolment figures, which indicate a significant gap between the number of children aged six to 18 and those enrolled in primary and secondary schools.
According to the 2024 Uganda Bureau of Statistics (Ubos) census, Agago has 63,059 children aged six to 12 and another 49,367 aged 13 to 18, bringing the total number of children in the six-to-18 age bracket to 112,426.
However, district chairperson Wilson Otto said only 56,020 children were enrolled in primary schools by the end of the second term, while 4,591 were enrolled in secondary schools.
This leaves an estimated 51,815 children outside the district’s formal school enrolment records.
“This is a very unfortunate position for the district. We can have 51,815 children that we cannot account for, whether they are at school or at home,” Otto said.
The district leadership has directed local leaders, education officials, parents, guardians and security agencies to work together to ensure school-age children return to class and remain in school.
Under the enforcement measures, children below the age of 18 found loitering in markets, trading centres or other public places during school hours without a legitimate reason will be identified and referred to the relevant authorities for appropriate action.
Otto also warned parents and guardians against keeping children out of school or exposing them to activities that could leave them vulnerable to exploitation.
“Parents or guardians whose negligence, deliberate failure or action contributes to a child being kept out of school or subjected to harmful activities will be dealt with according to the law,” he said.
The enforcement exercise will involve sub-county education committees, district education task forces, local leaders, police and other government departments.
Otto said the district would also work with the deputy resident district commissioner, district police commander and other stakeholders to ensure children report back to school on September 14.
Pregnancy, PTA fees
The directive also covers children who are pregnant or have already given birth. Otto said pregnancy or parenthood should not automatically prevent children from continuing their education.
He also warned schools against sending children home over unpaid Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) contributions.
While parents may voluntarily agree to contribute money to support their schools, Otto said such contributions should not be used as a basis for denying children access to education.
“We are also asking all teachers to ensure no child who attends school is sent away because of either PTA or whatsoever,” he said.
The district chairperson urged parents to take children who have dropped out back to the nearest primary or secondary school, regardless of their age or the class they are able to join.
He said the broader objective was to improve literacy while protecting children below the age of 18 from activities that could expose them to exploitation and other risks.
“We want to have an educated population, at least to the point where we can read and write. This is a position we want to enforce as a district,” Otto said.
Parents have welcomed the directive but called for stronger measures to address the economic and social challenges contributing to school dropout.
Christine Lakidi, a parent from Wii Polo Cell in Lai Muto Town Council, said the directive was timely because children who remain at home while their peers are at school can easily become involved in petty trading and other forms of child labour.
“Some children start by staying at home for a few days and eventually get used to it. By the time parents realise it, they have completely dropped out of school. This directive can help us prevent that,” Lakidi said.
Pamela Adong, another parent from the area, said enforcement should be accompanied by measures to support vulnerable families.
She cited poverty, teenage pregnancy, domestic responsibilities and the inability of some families to meet school-related costs as major barriers to regular school attendance.
“Poverty, teenage pregnancy and domestic responsibilities are some of the reasons children fail to remain in school. If these challenges are not addressed, simply ordering children to return to school may not solve the problem,” Adong said.
She said parents supported the district’s objective but wanted the enforcement to focus on helping children return to school rather than simply punishing families.
“We want our children in school, but the district should also help vulnerable families so that poverty does not continue pushing children out of school,” she said.