BY DANIEL MUMBYA: A 44-year-old father of two wives has returned to the classroom to sit the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE), in a bid to fulfil his personal ambitions and set an example for his family.
Bateganya Sayid says he made a commitment at home that every member of his family should attain at least an Advanced Certificate of Education (A-Level). However, he realised that he had not even obtained a Primary Leaving Examination pass slip, despite his firstborn child having attained a First Grade in the Senior Four examinations at Ibun Buz Secondary School in Iganga District.
Sayid said he decided to return to school after realising the importance of education while supporting his children through their academic journey.
“I committed myself to becoming an example to my family so that I could achieve the ambition I had set for them. My family tried to take me to school in the 1990s, but I refused because I considered education meaningless and could not see its value or future benefits,” he said.
He added that his perspective changed when he assumed responsibility for educating his children and witnessed the country’s rapid development. “I came to realise that without academic qualifications, there is very little one can achieve in Uganda today. I felt I needed to acquire education myself rather than simply encouraging my children to study,” he said.
Sayid enrolled at Noor Islamic Primary School in Kasokoso Central I, Iganga Municipality, Iganga District, where he is preparing to sit his PLE. He revealed that his sons and daughters have played a significant role in his academic journey by coaching him, teaching him how to answer examination questions and helping him develop critical thinking skills.
Sayid expressed confidence that he would perform well in the examinations, saying he hopes to attain good grades comparable to those achieved by his children. He appealed to young learners to take education seriously, describing it as a lifelong inheritance that parents can give their children.
“Education is the only property your parents can give you that will remain with you forever, unlike land, houses and other forms of wealth,” he said. The headteacher of Noor Islamic Primary School, [name not provided], is expected to comment on Sayid’s decision to return to school and his progress.