The Minister of Defense and Veteran Affairs, Jacob Oboth Oboth, has convened an emergency meeting with education stakeholders in West Budama Central following the constituency’s poor performance in the recently released Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results.
The meeting, held at Siwa Primary School, brought together school management committee chairpersons, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) leaders, headteachers, and sub-county political representatives to address the region’s disappointing performance, which saw it rank last in the district.
Why is Oboth Oboth Concerned Over Declining Academic Standards?
While chairing the discussion, Minister Oboth expressed deep concern over the falling academic standards, questioning why several schools failed to register even a single first-grade pass despite the introduction of a new, supposedly more accessible curriculum.
Stakeholders while meeting Oboth Oboth attributed the poor results to several challenges, including:
- Inadequate teaching staff in many schools
- Absenteeism of headteachers from their workplaces
- Failure by parents to provide meals for learners
- Lack of proper inspection by district school inspectors
Proposed Interventions
To address these concerns, the minister directed the District Education Office (DEO) to redistribute teachers more equitably among schools, stressing that the issue could be resolved without necessarily hiring new staff.
“This is a serious problem, but it can be managed at the district level. The DEO must ensure a fair distribution of teachers. Some schools have as few as six teachers, while others have 18. This imbalance must be addressed,” he stated.
Minister Oboth also raised concerns over the alleged mismanagement of Universal Primary Education (UPE) funds. Reports indicated that some headteachers and district education officials were colluding to embezzle funds meant for school operations.
“School administrators are not using UPE funds appropriately. There is clear negligence within the education inspectorate, and this must be addressed immediately,” he added.
Addressing Student Malnutrition
Another major issue discussed was student malnutrition, which has been linked to poor concentration and academic performance. To counter this, stakeholders proposed that schools use available land to grow food crops to supplement student meals, especially since many parents struggle to provide food for their children.
Commitment to Reviving Education Standards by Oboth Oboth
This meeting with Oboth Oboth comes amid a long-standing trend of poor academic performance in the constituency, with several schools failing to produce students who qualify for secondary education. Minister Oboth urged all stakeholders to take collective responsibility in revitalizing the education sector.
The resolutions from the meeting will be closely monitored to ensure effective implementation and to improve academic performance in future examinations.
Who is Jacob Oboth Oboth?
Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth, born on April 13, 1971, in Tororo District, Uganda, is a distinguished lawyer, intellectual property expert, and politician. He represents West Budama County South in the Ugandan Parliament as a member of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and serves as the State Minister for Defence (General Duties). Oboth-Oboth chairs the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and has previously led the Committees on Rules, Discipline and Privileges, and Natural Resources.
His educational background includes a Bachelor of Laws from Makerere University, a Diploma in Legal Practice from the Law Development Centre, and a Master of Laws in election and cyber law from the University of Minnesota. Before entering politics, he worked as a state attorney in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs. First elected to Parliament in 2011, Oboth-Oboth has been re-elected in subsequent terms, demonstrating his constituents’ continued trust in his leadership.
