Parents in several sub counties in Lamwo district have decried the lack of guidance in schools that is leading to the high rate of pregnancy in girls and drop out of boys in the district. 

This came after the district education officer announced recently that over 55 girls from four schools in only one sub county in the district were impregnated and put the blame squarely on parents rather than teachers or schools. 

Mr Francis Obwo of Kangole Village in Paloga Sub County told Acholi Times that the majority of teachers in Primary Schools concentrate on class lessons alone, and ignore the guidance, morals and cultural aspects of education. 

He added that there are some children who think that education has no future but go to school because of pressure from their parents. 

Mr Obwo revealed that there are some teachers who only give guidance to children in the class and not the entire school. 

“These children are still very young and need a lot of guiding from schools; we parents are doing our part from home that is why we are sending them to school every day and the teachers should also help us but not give only class lessons,” he said. 

Meanwhile Ms Josephine Lalangu of  Olebi trading Centre in Lokung Sub county says that it is the obligation of teachers to take care of their children and give them guidance to every child in school because there are some girls who are in boarding schools who are getting pregnant. 

“There are some girls in boarding schools who are getting pregnancy and they are not with their parents which means those children are lacking in knowledge about the importance of  education, that is why they don’t care about their future,” she said. 

The Headteacher of Palacam Primary School in Pawach Parish in Agoro sub county Mr Kenneth Lawii said that it is easier to control children in boarding schools than it is in day schools because some of them can easily engage in non extra curriculum activities. 

He said that as teachers, they try their best to give guidelines to all students on how to become a model citizen and contribute to their own development, their communities and their country. 

“We need to join hands in guiding these children more especially the girls because we are all (parents and teachers), and be mindful of whatever these children are doing on their way to and from school,” he said. 

The District Education Officer (DSO) for Lamwo Mr Christopher Obalim told this paper that DSOs are fighting to ensure that teen pregnancies are eliminated from Primary Schools by sensitising the children and their parents over the positive impact of education in a family. 

Adding that, even those that have dropped out because of pregnancy need to be encouraged back to school after birth. 

Obalim said last year the department of education and sports launched a campaign called: “Go back to school” during which over 100 girls, who had dropped out of school resumed education after giving birth to their babies.

There are 77 Primary Schools in Lamwo district with some primary schools identified as hotspots such as Diicwinyi 18, Palabek Kal 15 and Lapalangwen Primary school 12 girls.