EASTERN PROVINCE

BUGESERA —At least 389 students in Bugesera district have failed to turn up for primary leaving examinations that ended Wednesday.

Statistics released at the end of the two-day exercise from the district education office indicate 3,385 pupils turned up, 89.7 per cent of those registered.

District official in charge of education, youth, sports and culture Emanuel Karemera said those missing were mainly older students who had enrolled due to free primary education offered, but later dropped out.

He said that the exams had largely been successful and were a "glory to God.”

Karemera was optimistic that the pupils would perform well in this year’s exams "owing to the fact that teachers in different schools had finished their syllabi two months [in advance].”

He also expressed concern that, even with free education and free meals served at primary schools, the rate of dropouts was a growing problem.

The government in collaboration with the United Nations World Food Programme reached an arrangement for provision of free meals in primary schools. He challenged parents to take concern for the education of their children in the fight against illiteracy.

"Parents should not take education as a problem of the government but a family matter. If we don’t ensure that children who enrol in school complete education, the problem of illiteracy will stagnate.”

Ends