Soroti battles teachers’ gap, and accommodation

Soroti, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT  |  Soroti district has attributed the low performance in Primary Leaving Examinations-PLE to inadequate teaching staff and accommodation. 390 out of 867 teachers in the district lack accommodation.

Soroti also operates on 71:1 [pupil: teacher] ratio against the 43:1 national average [2016 Statistical Abstract of UBOS]. According to James Oede, the SorotiDistrict Education Officer, much as they registered progress in the number of candidates passing PLE in 2019, there was a shortfall in the number of candidates in first grade.

The district recorded only 136 first grades in 2019 from 191 in 2018. Oede says that much as the few teachers struggle to cover the gap, they are frustrated by lack of accommodation in schools, making them operate from distant places.

But George Michael Egunyu, the Soroti District LC V Chairperson faults parents and other stakeholders for failing to take up their responsibility in supplementing the learning process.

Egunyu noted that besides failing to feed children in schools, parents have also paid a deaf ear to other requirements like contributions for teachers’ welfare.

James Okello, a parent in Nakatunya in Soroti Municipality, says most parents have given up on government aided school because of private schools that offer better alternatives.

He explains that while it would be good to educate children in government aided schools, there’s a lot laxity from parents as they expect everything free of charge.

Together with the municipality, Soroti emerged best district in PLE from Teso sub region, followed by Kumi.

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