What it means to dropout of school in Uganda’s Urban Slums?
Over
1.1 Million
Children
IN UGANDA DROPOUT
OF SCHOOL
Before completing Primary Seven.
(UNEB PLE Results 2020)
But who are they?
MOSTLY
are Girls and Boys living in urban slums and rural communities
are pupils studying in UPE and Community OVC schools
are Children living in destitutions
When they drop out of school, Children are deprived of their right to education and a bright future!
SCHOOL DROPOUT, as worsened by the 2 years COVID-19 lockdown on schools is the biggest threat to Children’s right to Education, and Sustainable Development Goal(SDG) 4 targets in Uganda.
Case study 1;
They Dream No More!
Nakato is an out of school 12yrs old girl-
child and a street vendor. She lives with her single mother and a twin brother Wasswa in Kamwokya, a suburb in Kampala Capital City.In her Primary Two, Nakato used to dream of becoming a nurse to treat her family members and friends such that they do not of die HIV. Similarly, Wasswa dreamt of becoming a civil engineer to build a good house for their mother.Four years back, the twins dropped out of school before attaining enough education to fulfil their dreams, to date, they don’t dream anymore!
Every morning, Nakato and Wasswa trail the streets of Kampala City vending vegetables to support their family needs. To Nakato, it has never been a simple task.
“I no longer dream of becoming a nurse, life is now about vending, but it‛s tough, some customers are very rude. I wish I can just run back to school” Nakato.
CASE STUDY II;
At-risk & Not Known
Simon is a 14yrs old Primary Six boy-child studying at Have Mercy OVC Primary school. He wants to
become a journalist. Simon’s two best friends Jim and Musa are out of school children working in the scrapyard of Kabowa Slums.
Everyday Jim and Musa earns at least 1.1$ from selling scrap. There are able to buy for themselves Dior
T-shirts and pay for cinema hall. Jim also recently bought an itel smartphone. They have some money in the pocket, not like Simon, a school boy.
Simon feels inspired and amazed by Jim and Musa. With advice from his besties, Simon needs to spare some- days not at school, to look for money and be a star at the school
canteen.
At least 2days every week, sometimes 3days, Simon leaves home to school, but he stops somewhere in the ghetto to join his friends looking for scrap.Although he misses some classes and academically falling back in science, it’s not a big deal. Afterall, he attends some, performs well in other subjects and earns some money every time he is not at school.Simon feels like the more days he doesn’t go to school, the more time to earn. Although, He thinks of totally stopping going to school and concentrates on collecting money, his teacher, parent and classmates are not aware of his plans.Simon is at-risk of dropping out of school and no one is aware of his situation and need for support.