By Ojok Robert Mone & Odong Stephen

Gulu City

In a bid to revamp the academic performance in schools, the Archdiocese of Gulu seeks 2-billion shillings to finance the education week that will run from the 13^th to the 18^th November next month.  

Education week shall involve exhibitions by schools, companies and tertiary institutions, Dialogue with education stakeholders, games and sports among others.

The secretary for education in the archdiocese, Fr. Robert Odong says that the education week aims at getting solutions to poor performance at church founded schools.

Felix Kinyera chairperson Parish Education committee of Pabbo in Amuru district says that they are being faced with the challenge of inadequate finance as they carry on with monitoring and supervision of church founded schools.

Christine Lamunu an educationist said for the last 20-years, people have been recovering from the LRA war in different ways which preoccupied them but there is a great need of restructuring education in Acholi sub-region. “It’s critical to mobilize people so that they take up their roles in supporting education”, Lamunu added

The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Gulu, Dr John Baptist Odama thinks COVID-19, poverty and post war situation have greatly contributed to the current state of affairs. “We call upon people from other regions of Uganda to support our efforts to restore education in Acholi and Northern Uganda as a whole. Individuals can also identify a needy and support his/her education up to university to improve the imbalance in education” Archbishop John Baptist Odama noted.  

World Bank report of 2020 indicates that Acholi sub region spent 6-billion shillings in education by taking their children to schools in central Uganda. Meanwhile other reports put the region as the poorest with high school dropouts in human development indices, poor academic performance and low learning competencies where in Nwoya district, a primary seven pupil has learning competency of an equivalent of a primary three.

This first ever education week which is under the theme “Re-awakening and Re-positioning the Catholic Church and other stakeholders in transforming education in Acholi sub-region” with the special focus to the formation of a human person for the promotion of the common good of society and attainment of eternity destiny.

COVER PHOTO: Students from different schools in Gulu vicariate with Fr Maurizio Balducci(MCCJ) By Ojok Robert Mone