Funyula Member of Parliament Dr. Wilberforce Oundo Mudenyo has urged the national government to release capitation money to schools across the country as soon as possible to ease normal operations in schools.
Speaking in his Constituency while disbursing NG-CDF bursaries to secondary school students, Dr. Mudenyo said many schools are facing hard times in providing their services.
“You cannot say you want to improve education but you don’t release funds. CDF can only boost a smaller percentage,” he said.
Furthermore, the legislature said, they allocated money for infrastructural development in Junior Secondary Schools across the country in this year’s supplementary budget; therefore the money should be released to schools immediately.
His remarks come amidst the second term opening of schools according to our spot-check, the number of students reporting is still low, with back to schools a number of parents complaining of hard economic.
Over thirty-six million shillings was disbursed to more than 5000 secondary school students from Funyula Constituency both in schools within the Constituency and out. Dr. Mudenyo used the opportunity to remind parents of their cardinal responsibility of ensuring their sons and daughters remain in school as the NG-CDF bursaries only cover part of the school’s fees.
“Every year we set aside millions of public funds for the education sector, but the results are not appealing. Whether you are fully sponsored or have been given a normal bursary, you owe it to yourself, your parents, teachers, and the public who have committed to take a chunk of the money to give you the students, we urge you please go and work hard.”
Dr. Mudenyo further lamented on increasing cases of drug and substance abuse among students in the Constituency. He says the endemic situation has raised school dropout cases in Funyula as well as crime rates in Samia Sub-County.
It’s believed an organized crime- group “32-brothers” that has been terrorizing is mostly made of secondary school students and some school dropouts. The Member of Parliament has warned the group as he promised a thorough security patrol in the area to eradicate such groups.
