14 uncoded schools in Otuke await gov’t takeover

Otuke, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Fourteen uncoded primary schools in Otuke district are operating without support from government.

These schools lack the requisite codes from the Ministry of Education and Sports that would have enabled them to receive grants from the government because they are community founded.

They include Ariamet in Atira parish, Ajur in Ajur parish, Ogwete sub county, Aler in Ating parish, Orum sub county and Alura in Opejal parish, Okwang sub county.

The others are Awonkok in Oderokech parish, Ogor sub county and Akwera in Akwera parish, Adwari town council among others.

Quinton Odongo, the District Education Officer explained that the district has on many occasions written to the Ministry of Education to have the schools coded but nothing has been done.

“Efforts to have these schools coded have since not been successful and we therefore have been requesting the Ministry of Education and Sports to have these schools coded for government grant aiding,” Odongo said.

Alfred Malinga, the Chief Administrative Officer explained that the district does not have enough resources to support these schools. He is worried that they may not be able to accommodate learners when schools open after the lockdown.

However recently, the State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo disclosed that the government plans to take over the schools in the district.

Muyingo was in Otuke on a fact finding mission following an issue of national importance on status of schools raised on the floor of Parliament by Susan Abeja, the District Woman MP.

Meanwhile, Julius Acon Bua, the Otuke East county MP blamed the government for neglecting community schools especially those in hard to reach areas.

Citing Ariamet community primary school in Ogwete sub county which has an enrollment of 1,800 pupils studying under the tree, Acon emphasized the need for government to support these schools because parents alone cannot do much.

Acon who acknowledged that the situation has not changed since their school days says the world is changing and children should now be able to access quality education from a decent environment.

Although the government policy provides for a primary school in every parish or ward within the country, many parishes in Otuke district do not have primary schools. The district has a total of 45 government aided primary schools.

As a result, the communities in Otuke started schools to take care of the educational needs of their children who cannot access government aided schools. However, these schools are grappling with a number of challenges ranging from poor infrastructures and lack of teachers.

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