Members of Parliament have called for the immediate regulation and enforcement of safety guidelines for school trips following a tragic accident where two pupils from Daystar Junior School in Makindye Division died.
Eleven others were seriously injured as they returned from their excursion to Kasese District.
Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu questioned the ministry of Education’s oversight in authorising school excursions involving children.
“The ministry of Education should come to explain how trips are conducted in schools; the time of driving, the advance planning and age restrictions. I am still wondering how a school can get nursery kids from Kampala to go for an excursion to Kasese,” he said.
Ssewungu, also a former teacher, expressed disbelief at the decision to subject children some reportedly in nursery and lower primary to such long-distance travel.
“Whether it is a P1 child up to P3, sending them on that journey, is unprecedented,” he added.
According to police reports cited in the House, the driver of the bus is believed to have fallen asleep leading to the fatal crash.
Speaker Anita Among re-echoed the concerns expanding the debate to highlight more troubling transport arrangements.
“I have even seen students and pupils on lorries. At least those ones were in a bus, but full in a lorry!” she wondered.
David Bahati, the minister of state for Trade, said cabinet will respond on the matter. Among warned of growing inequality and possible exploitation, particularly in trips organised outside the country.
“If I am a parent who cannot afford, and you are saying these children should go out of the country, won’t there be discrimination? Aren’t we extorting from parents?” she asked.
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