VANESSA A
Nyamirama Town Council has issued pre-PLE examinations to headteachers of nine schools in the town council, an initiative aimed at supporting learners during the ongoing industrial strike by teachers.
Speaking to Boona Radio after the distribution, Mayor Bahirwa Lavuzeri Kahororo said the pre-PLE exams are funded from the town council’s local government revenue. He explained that limited resources had previously prevented annual distribution but pledged that, funds permitting, the initiative would become an annual effort to promote education and academic excellence, particularly among Primary Seven pupils.
Mayor Kahororo also called on the government to urgently address the teachers’ strike, warning that the disruption could leave long-term negative impacts on children, especially slow learners. He emphasized the importance of early education, noting, “Great people all begin in class.”
He urged PTA chairpersons to mobilize parents, with headteachers’ consent, to find ways of ensuring that students in lower classes continue learning while waiting for teachers on the government payroll to return.
Secretary for Social Services and Eastern Ward Councilor, Janet Akantorona, expressed gratitude to the town council leadership for the initiative. She highlighted that even though funds were limited, the contribution would positively impact the children and hoped for more support in the future. She also thanked headteachers for arranging for children to return to school, noting that idle children often engage in unproductive activities.
Town Clerk Lilian Ingabire commended the headteachers for attending to students during the strike, particularly Primary Seven candidates preparing for their final exams. She emphasized that disciplined students are more likely to excel and attract sponsorships. She urged parents to support their children’s education and called on government school headteachers to improve the learning environment, citing last year’s financial year performance as unsatisfactory.
Chairperson of the Headteachers’ Association in Nyamirama Town Council and Kigarama Primary School Headteacher, Alexander Tumusime, thanked the town council for the initiative. He pledged that the pre-PLE exams would not only help students assess their learning but also prepare them mentally for the upcoming final exams.
The initiative underscores Nyamirama Town Council’s commitment to supporting education and ensuring that learners continue to receive guidance despite the ongoing strike.
