By Patrick Okino
Students of Acaba Secondary School in Oyam District have been cautioned against exploiting their parents’ limited literacy to deceive them into providing large sums of pocket money.
Vicar General of Lira Diocese, Fr Valente Innocent Opio, described the practice as a form of corruption and theft, urging students to desist from dishonest behaviour.
Speaking during the commissioning of a boys’ dormitory at the school on Saturday, Opio said some students use complicated or non-existent vocabulary to pressure their parents into giving them money for unnecessary demands.
He recalled witnessing similar behaviour during his own school days, when some students demanded large sums of money from financially struggling parents to meet their needs.
“They bulldoze by deceiving parents when they need huge pocket money, simply because some of our parents are not highly learned,” he said.
Opio said some parents end up sending the money because they fear that failing to meet their children’s demands could affect their academic performance.
He also administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 25 students and urged them to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit, reflect on their actions and avoid dishonest practices.
Chairperson of the school’s Board of Governors, Fr Paul Okuta, attributed the school’s growth and distinction partly to the constant physical presence of Bishop Sanctus Lino Wanok.
Okuta commended the school’s stakeholders, including Oyam District officials, for their cooperation and support towards the institution’s development.
Headteacher Saimon Okeng said although the school is not fenced, students are disciplined and are granted permission whenever they need to leave the school premises.
Okeng said when he took over as headteacher, the school had only 255 students, but enrollment has since increased to 1,532, making it the second-largest school in the Lango Sub-region after Lira Town College.
“In terms of numbers, we are second to Lira Town College, but there is quality performance here. I am not blowing my own trumpet, but I am telling you the truth,” he said.
He said the school was ranked sixth in the 2025 A-Level results, attributing the improvement to discipline, teamwork and motivation among the teaching staff.
Meanwhile the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is investing more than Sh1 billion to construct classroom blocks, staff accommodation and sanitation facilities at the school.
The project, being undertaken by Akol Holding Ltd, includes eight classroom blocks, a twin staff house, four-stance toilet facilities for boys and girls, and a two-stance toilet for teaching staff.
Okeng, said UNICEF selected the school after a survey identified a critical need for infrastructure.