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Moroto, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | 20 inmates in Moroto prisons have sat for the Primary Leaving Examinations-PLE. The inmates sat for the exams at Nakapelimen primary school, 500 meters away from the prisons.
Frank Baine, the spokesperson for Uganda Prison Services said that they paid the registration fees of the inmates. He added that those who pass will be transferred to Jinja or Luzira prisons for secondary education.
“This is just a pilot study, we want to see how they will progress then later we shall enroll more and put them in our primary school with other pupils. This is also another way to boost the population so that we can have our own UNEB center number,’’ Baine said.
Baine says they have enrolled 110 convicted prisoners for studies from P1 to P7, inside the prisons and are using fellow inmates to volunteer as teachers while others are hired from outside.
James Kalikawe, the head teacher of Nakapelimen primary school said that the candidates were excited to sit with the inmates.
In Bukedea district, two juvenile offenders were able to sit their Primary Leaving Examinations-PLE. One of the candidates from Kanyangan primary school was arrested last week for allegedly stealing a watermelon.
The 17 year old pupil whose name has been withheld because he is a minor was released on police bond at Malera police post on Tuesday and allowed to sit for his examination.
According to the police, the boy with others still at large allegedly stole a watermelon from the garden while on their way back home from school.
Another 15 year old candidate of Tajar Primary School was given bail from the Children’s remand home where he was detained for allegedly defiling a one-year-old child last month.
Stephen Okurut, the Bukedea District Education Officer says that they pleaded with the authorities to allow the candidates to write their examinations as investigations continue.
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