Gulu woman Member Of Parliament Hon. AOL Betty Ochan has called for the institution of an Acholi education fund to help needy Acholi students meet the cost of higher learning.
Aol says in the past two weeks alone, she has been approached by about 200 people each in need of school fees most of whom are orphans and children whose parents cannot afford to pay tuition fees for secondary and university education.
She attributes the overwhelming number of people coming for assistance to the fact that people have realised the importance of education.
“Parents are now understanding the importance of education but unfortunately they do not have the capacity to pay for education,” Aol told a gathering of Acholi leaders today at St Monica Tailoring School in Gulu district.
The Gulu woman Member of Parliament proposed that an Acholi Fund for Education be set up where each household in Acholi be required to pay one thousand shillings per month to support needy students for university education.
“Imagine if each household pays one thousand shillings per month to the fund?” Aol wondered, “it would be billions of shillings which would be enough to pay over two hundred Acholi students at universities.”
On the streets of Gulu, her proposal received some support.
Lalam Margaret, a roadside vendor in Gulu agrees saying “I am willing to even contribute two thousand shillings towards this noble idea”.
Lodi Fred, a boda boda (motor cycle taxi) rider also supports the idea but wonders how it would be implemented “I could not finish my studies because I lacked fees, this initiative is a very good one but how are they really going to collect the money?”
On the mode of collection from the different households, Aol proposes that it be passed as a resolution by different Acholi district to be enforced through the clan structure.
