Eight children, who excelled in the 2023 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at Happy Times Child Care Home in Luweero District, face uncertainty regarding their transition to secondary school due to financial constraints. The children, part of the more than 170 residing at the care home, were abandoned as toddlers and lack hope of reconnecting with their guardians or relatives.
Jacklyne Nakijjoba Birungi, one of the affected children, expressed gratitude to the home’s management but remains unsure about sponsorship for her secondary education. Despite achieving Aggregate 9 in PLE, the children’s future education is clouded by concerns about school fees and other essential needs.
Suuna Mulangira, who scored Aggregate 12, echoed similar worries about the financial burden associated with secondary education. Other children at Happy Times Child Care Home share these concerns, fearing that their academic achievements might be overshadowed by economic constraints.
Fredrick Kasule, the program manager at Happy Times Child Care Home, appealed to well-wishers, school proprietors, and the community to support these children in pursuing secondary education. With limited resources, the home faces challenges in meeting the educational needs of over 170 children with backgrounds of abandonment and child abuse.
Joyce Namigadde, the district probation officer, disclosed that Luweero has 11 child care homes, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to provide educational opportunities for vulnerable children.
