Kangai Leaders Blame District Education Department for Poor PLE Performance

Local leaders in Kangai Sub-county, Dokolo South Constituency, have blamed the district’s education department for the continued poor performance of learners.

During a stakeholders' engagement meeting at Amatiburu Primary School on Monday, leaders, including councilors, Parents and Teachers Association representatives (PTA), school management committees, and cultural leaders, expressed frustration over the education department’s failure to fulfill its responsibilities.

Kangai Sub-county Chief Vincent Ogwang accused the department of transferring teachers and headteachers without proper posting letters, causing confusion and intimidation. LCIII Chairperson Daniel Okwang Kiza also criticized poor school inspections and interference from foundation bodies, which he said were affecting education standards.

Councilors Dickens Obote and Jocy Tila noted that the department had failed to implement council resolutions on education audits. 

Jolex Bua, the Sub-county Secretary for Health and Education, pointed to poor relationships between teachers and headteachers, lack of parental involvement, and delayed teacher transfers as key issues.

Headteachers from five government-aided schools highlighted additional challenges, including interference by foundation bodies, outdated textbooks, dilapidated structures, low parental turnout at AGMs, poor support for school feeding programs, and lack of teacher motivation.

However, Susan Lea Adoma, speaking on behalf of District Education Officer David Eryatu, denied the claims and promised improved school inspections and supervision in 2025.

Dokolo District Police Commander SP Patience Bangazi urged parents to mentor their children and support education for both boys and girls. 

Resident District Commissioner, Babra Akech expressed disappointment over the district’s poor performance in the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) over the past three years. 

Using the same platform, she called on local leaders to hold village-level meetings to address challenges such as late reporting of learners and insecurity.

The recently released 2024 PLE results showed that Kangai Sub-county performed poorly, with no pupil in Division 1, 26 in Division 2, 65 in Division 3, 47 in Division 4, and 104 ungraded (Division U).

Stakeholders vowed to find solutions to improve education performance in the sub-county.