MP SONGA BIYIKA BOOST LEARNER’S WITH SCHORLASTIC MATERIALS

MP Songa(in white long sleeved shirt) delivering scholastic materials to learners from Ora County at Zale trading center, in Zeu Sub-County on 12 February, 2025.

By Mike Rwothomio

Zombo

Songa Biyika Lawrence, the area Member of Parliament for Ora County, Zombo District, through his Songa Education Foundation, has boosted the best performing learners of the 2024 PLE as they commenced their post-primary studies.

The foundation donated scholastic materials that included Mattresses, Geometrical sets, Counter books, pens to over 80 learners at Zale trading center, in Papoga Parish, Zeu Sub-County on February 12, 2025.

While delivering his speech to hundreds of parents and pupils who converged at Zale trading center,  Songa explained that the  yearly initiative that he embarked on in 2016, is to support struggling  parents of the best performing pupils regardless of their Political, religious or cultural affiliations.

He encouraged parents and other stakeholders across board to join hands to improve academic performance in the district.

“Since I joined Parliament, we have been giving some awards in kind of appreciation to help the parents who are struggling to send their children to senior one, we usually give them scholastic materials so that the parents will concentrate on looking for fees,” Songa explained.

The yearly donation targets girls who attain Division one and two respectively, and boys who attain Division one from different schools within Ora County.

Gilbert Okumu, the chairperson Songa Education Foundation who is also the head teacher of Adhingi Primary School in Aka Sub County, noted that their yearly support encourages girl child education.

Recently, the District Education Officer of Zombo Nicholas Odeba, revealed a damning report about low transition rate of learners from primary to secondary education, putting it at an average 10 percent.

In a bid to tackle the high dropout rate, Songa Education Foundation’s chairperson Okumu,  rallied parents to offer needed support for the girl child,  assuring of doing keen follow up of the beneficiaries in their various schools, warning community members against their wide spread unbecoming  behavior that negatively impact  the girl child education.

Some of the parents identified as Fred Olangi and Gabriel Thago from Alangi and Aka, expressed satisfaction over the foundation’s timely intervention.

Pikese Quinta, one of the beneficiaries from Pasaye Primary School, who is joining Warr Girls SS commended MP Songa for the support, noting how his father was struggling to look for fees.

Lydia Awekunimungu from Ari Primary School upon receiving her gifts, commended Songa for the initiative, calling upon other leaders to emulate his intervention.

Night Gloria, the chairperson NRM Party Zeu Sub-County, hailed the leadership of Songa Biyika Lawrence, for his ever continuous support in championing education in the district.

She tasked electorates in her Sub county to always elect result-oriented leaders for improved service delivery and performance.

Meanwhile the Parish Priest of Zeu Catholic Parish, Rev. Father Hercules Odokotit, upon commending the MP for his undivided support, rallied parents to accord the children a peaceful environment and love for them to achieve their dreams.

Zombo District in the 2024 Primary leaving examinations recorded 23 pupils in Division one, 835 in Division two, 950 in Division three, 459 in Division four, 333 were ungraded whilst 25 never sat for the papers. The best pupil who scored aggregate 8 hails from Ora County.

Silvio Jalar, the district inspector of schools who represented the DEO at the function commended Songa for being consultative and championing education in Zombo.

He stressed the need for concerted effort and also appealed to the MP to join them in routine monitoring of schools to motivate the learners.

Songa Education Foundation commenced their full education support in 2016, by donating pamphlets to aid learning in schools before starting their yearly donation of scholastic materials to best performing learners in Ora County.

The move is all aimed at improving on academic excellence in Zombo, where parents support towards education is still record low.