Refugee Students Struggle to Raise School Fees
The dream of acquiring formal education is a great challenge to the majority of children who live as refugees at the settlement camps in Northern Uganda. This challenge has seen many children drop out of school altogether while a few resilient ones opt to do any available work such as laying of bricks to raise school fees to support their studies.
Francis Alame, a senior two student at Ofua secondary school in Ofua zone Rhino camp refugees settlement in Terego District is one such resilient student. The 18 years old refugee says that he wants to see his dream of achieving meaningful education come true. This is the reason why he opted to look for menial jobs such as laying bricks, digging, and helping his parents so that they can earn some money to support his education.
“The little money I get from such jobs has helped me to buy some of the things I need such as clothes, shoe among others so that I do not have to depend on others,” Francis expressed added that he is ready to go to resume learning as soon as schools reopen. So far he has managed to purchase his school uniform and other school items he will use while at school.
“I lay 300 bricks in a day where I get 9000 Ugandan shillings in a day, and I make sure I spend 5000 shillings then I save the remaining amount for my studies,’’ Francis shares.
He urges his fellow refugees to look for anything to do to generate some income for going back to school rather than idling around at the trading centers.
Meanwhile, Innocent Ladu, a 16-years old senior two refugee student studying in Koboko Town College said that during the lockdown, he has been helping his parents, studying at home, and also laying bricks to support him when schools open.
Like Francis, Ladu also lays 300 bricks in a day and gets 9000 Ugandan shillings. He spends the money to buy items he will be needed when going back to schools such as books, pens, and even school uniforms and shoes.
He too advises his fellow refugee youths to respect their parents and do such kind of work to help supplement their parents’ income.
Another refugee pupil, 15-years old Moses Levi, a primary five pupil of Ofua III primary school in Rhino camp said he is laying bricks to get money for his school requirement because he doesn’t want to depend entirely on his parents who are already overburdened with family responsibilities.
By Gaaniko Samson Jerry
