Dokolo RDC Gives Okwongodul Leaders One Week to Boost Education

Dokolo District Resident Commissioner (RDC), Barbara Akech, has issued a one-week ultimatum to Okwongodul Sub-county leaders and head teachers of government primary schools to submit reports on their strategies for improving education performance.

Speaking during an engagement meeting organized by the District Security Department at Okwongodul Sub-county Headquarters, Akech emphasized the urgency of addressing the declining performance in government-aided primary schools. The meeting was attended by district stakeholders, sub-county leaders, parish chiefs, and LC1 and LCII chairpersons.

Akech stressed the need for cooperation among stakeholders to curb the poor academic performance, which she described as an embarrassment to the district’s education sector. She also announced plans to extend similar engagements across all sub-counties in Dokolo to find sustainable solutions.

"We have given a one-week ultimatum to Okwongodul stakeholders and head teachers to submit their engagement meeting reports on how they plan to enhance educational performance in the area," Akech stated.

Godfrey Ojungu, the District Sports Officer, speaking on behalf of District Education Officer David Eryatu, pointed out multiple challenges in school administration and parental involvement that are contributing to poor learner performance.

"The 2024 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results were disappointing and embarrassing due to the poor performance of our learners," Ojungu lamented.

District Community Liaison Officer (CLO) Dick Obura urged parents to prioritize their children’s education instead of involving them in domestic work and animal rearing, which disrupts their studies. He also called for the implementation of the district’s education audit to improve performance.

Geoffrey Weja Odjek, LCIII Chairperson of Okwongodul Sub-county, criticized the stark contrast in performance between private and government-aided schools, despite government teachers earning higher salaries. He attributed poor results to parents’ negative attitudes, particularly toward school feeding programs.

"Many parents refuse to support school feeding programs, which directly affects children’s concentration and performance," Weja noted.

Sub-county Chief Cavine Tapi urged the district to develop clear strategies to improve education and encouraged parents to embrace schooling as a means of fighting ignorance and insecurity.

Several head teachers, including Nelson Ojok (Aneralibi P/S), Daniel Alai (Ageni P/S), and Fred Lawrence Otim (Apenyoweo P/S), echoed concerns over parents' reluctance to support school initiatives. They also reported low pupil turnout in the first two weeks of the 2025 school term, signaling a worsening education crisis.

Joel Engol, LC1 Chairperson of Ajwati Village, blamed the government for promoting vernacular instruction in primary schools, arguing that it hinders students’ ability to read and interpret examination papers. He also criticized the lack of effective supervision by district school inspectors, which has contributed to laxity among teachers and school administrators.

To address the education crisis, stakeholders agreed on several measures, including: implementing compulsory school feeding programs in all government schools, conducting village engagement meetings across all communities, arresting and charging parents who keep children at home instead of sending them to school as well as ensuring parents provide necessary scholastic materials for their children.

With the ultimatum in place, all eyes are now on Okwongodul Sub-county leaders and school administrators to deliver actionable solutions for improving education performance in the area.