By BigEyeUg Team
Ugandan socialite and businesswoman Zari Hassan has questioned the importance of long school trips for young children following the tragic bus accident that claimed the lives of pupils from King David Junior School, Ndejje.
The country was left mourning after at least 24 pupils lost their lives in a bus crash on July 16 while returning from a school trip in Kapchorwa. The incident prompted the government to suspend all school tours and educational trips countrywide as safety measures are reviewed.
Adding her voice to the ongoing debate, Zari said she struggles to understand the purpose of taking primary school children on distant trips, arguing that some activities may not provide enough value compared to the risks involved.
“How can you make a school trip for kids to leave Kampala and go all that way? What are they going to do there? On top of that, you ask a lot of money for those trips. My children don’t go for school trips. They bring the papers for my approval and I refuse to sign them,” Zari said.
She explained that although she also participated in school trips while growing up, she does not believe they had a significant impact on her life, urging schools to focus on activities that offer meaningful benefits to learners.
“This is a new generation, therefore they should cut on some things that don’t add value to children. Why would you take kids on a three-day trip to Kapchorwa, to do what exactly?” she added.
Zari also extended her condolences to the families who lost their children in the accident, saying that no words can fully ease their pain but prayed that Allah grants them strength and comfort during the difficult period.
“My heart goes out to all the parents who lost their children. No amount of words can comfort them, but may Allah give them strength,” she said.