The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Lwengo, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Lwengo district leadership has appealed to the opposition leadership in parliament to support their quest to improve the learning environment in the government schools. Lwengo District Chairperson Ibrahim Kitatta says that the district is stuck with government schools in very poor shape.
Kitatta explains that besides the poor classroom structures and widespread lack of staff quarters, the schools do not have latrines and safe water sources, which exposes the learners and teachers to health risks.
The most affected schools include Lyakabirizi COPE, Kalagala COPE, Nakateete, Bijaaba, Kyanjovu, and Kyakatuuro primary schools, among others, where classes are conducted under makeshift shades, and lessons are not possible during both rainy sessions, and in times of scorching sunshine.
Kitatta says that the district has continuously attempted without success to improve the situation in the schools, due to limited budget allocations. This was contained in his report presented during an oversight tour of the area by the Leader of Opposition in Parliament Mathias Mpuuga Nsamba.
“We also informed the Ministry of Education and Sports about the plight of the learners in these schools but we are yet to get a remedy. We are now looking to this inspection tour by the office of the Leader of Opposition to appreciate the predicament of our people such that our voices can be complemented during high-level government’s planning process,” he indicated.
Kitatta explains that the district has been mobilizing the parents and communities to help in improving the learning environment in their schools, but the much they could afford is improvised shelters. For instance at Lyakabirizi Cope Primary School in Kyazanga Sub-county, a population of 512 learners has only two classrooms and a five-stance latrine.
The lower primary classes share an improvised grass thatched shade, which is supported by eucalyptus poles.
Kitatta says that such an appalling situation is affecting at least 26 government primary schools most of which are located in typical rural areas, which he says qualifies it to be given special consideration as hard-to-reach facilities.
Mpuuga promised to pay special attention to the neglected schools, to push the government to give them the attention they deserve to improve the situation in the education sector.
He urged the Lwengo district Education Department to also petition the Committee on Education and Sports, to arouse the interest of its members to support efforts to urgently improve the schools for the benefit of the learners.
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