By Mike Rwothomio

A devastating learner retention crisis has gripped Padea Ulyeko Government-Aided Primary School in Abanga Sub-County, Zombo District, with 752 pupils , representing a staggering 69.3% dropout rate , disengaging from education between Term I and Term III of 2025.

This marks the highest recorded drop out rate in the school’s 30-plus-year history, according to local leaders.

Headteacher Mr Richard Wanadi tabled a comprehensive dropout analysis report during the school’s Annual General Meeting on 2 December 2025, revealing that enrolment had crashed from 1,086 registered learners at the start of Term I to only 334 by Term III.

The institution, the sole government-aided primary school serving Serr Parish and surrounding agrarian communities including parts of Padea Town Council and cross-border areas with DR Congo, verified the data through Local Council I (LCI) chairpersons.

Villages with the highest absenteeism rates include Nsangi (83 dropouts), Pavur (69), Andhi (67), Acu Cell(58), and Ucol (59) amongst others.

Mr Wanadi cited multiple push-and-pull factors driving the crisis such as Cross-border coffee trading beyween Uganda–DR Congo, Proliferation of roasted maize vending, particularly among female learners, Forced withdrawal of pupils for agricultural labour on family farms in Nyapea and Atyak sub-counties.

Parents present at the AGM admitted lapses in parental engagement and scholastic oversight.

One parent and former teacher, Mr James Openji, lamented: “By keeping children at home, we have caused a full academic year of learning loss.”

The crisis at Padea Ulyeko reflects a wider systemic enrolment collapse across Zombo District’s 92 public primary schools, aggravated by the 32-day nationwide teachers’ industrial action led by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) at the start of Term III.

Padea Ulyeko Primary School

Abanga Sub-County LCIII Chairperson Mr Richard Awekunimungu identified seasonal withdrawal for farm work as a primary driver of Term III chronic absenteeism.

Meanwhile Innocent Godfred Onega, LCIII chairperson Paidha Town Council called for urgent multi-stakeholder retention strategies.

In an earlier interview, District Education Officer Mr Patrick Angala warned that unchecked attrition threatens long-term educational attainment in the district.

West Nile Sub-Region currently faces functional literacy rate that stands at only 7.8% and 28.7% of residents have never attended school.

National data from the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) and the 2024 Education and Sports Sector Annual Performance Reports (ESSAPR) reveal that over 40% of pupils nationwide fail to complete primary education, with girls disproportionately affected due to early marriage, teenage pregnancy, and poverty.

The current wave mirrors post-COVID-19 patterns in Zombo, when early pregnancies and child marriages disrupted the education of over 5,000 girls.

Stakeholders, including the Alur Kingdom and civil society, have renewed calls for targeted retention interventions to reverse the trend and safeguard Universal Primary Education (UPE) gains.

Head teacher of Padea Olyeku Primary School

Mike Rwothomio is news editor at zoomer Africa, your number one grassroot information hub