The alarming rise in student suicides has drawn the attention of the Speaker of Parliament, Annet Anita Among, who has called on parents to play a more active role in supporting their children's mental health.
In her recent communication, Anita expressed deep concern over the growing number of child deaths in schools, citing tragic incidents such as the drowning of a child in a swimming pool, a student being murdered and discarded in a pit latrine, and the suicide of Elishammah Ssesazi, a senior three student at Seeta High School.
Anita reminded teachers of their strict responsibility to ensure the safety of children, emphasizing that they may be held accountable in such incidents.
However, she also pointed to the crucial role parents play in their children's emotional well-being, urging them to provide counseling and support at home.
The Speaker further warned parents against exposing their children to excessive amounts of money at an early age, suggesting that this might have contributed to the tragic death of a student at Seeta School, who reportedly took his life after his father refused to send him Shs. 2 million.
In the wake of these incidents, Jonathan Ebwalu has called for justice in the case of Joan Apiyo, a child who was killed and thrown into a pit latrine at a school in Soroti District.
Ebwalu questioned the effectiveness of the Inspectorate of Education in the country and urged the Ministry of Education and Sports to establish minimum standards for the establishment of schools.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
He vowed to pursue Apiyo's case to its logical conclusion.
Shadow Minister for Education Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West) also expressed concern, noting the widening gap between parents, teachers, and children as a key factor contributing to the rise in student suicides.
State Minister for Higher Education, Chrysostom Muyingo, assured Parliament that police have launched investigations into the murder of a pupil in Soroti and other school-related deaths.
He pledged to report back with updates and a clear course of action regarding the incidents.
In a related development, police in Soroti have arrested two directors of Jozan Nursery School, Joseph Okedi and Suzan Vivian Ariokot, along with the school head teacher, James Edoket, in connection with the murder of 5-year-old Joan Faith Apiyo.
Investigations into the case are ongoing.
