BUKEDEA, Uganda
A makeshift structure that houses six classes at Acomai Primary School, six teachers take turns to teach about 150 pupils of the government-aided Acomai Primary School, which is located about 40 kilometres north of Bukedea District headquarters.
Hardly a metre separates the
classes, meaning noise from one class interferes with the other. This is the
study environment teachers and pupils here have endured for 10 years.
During the wet season, floods
from River Sironko often complicate accessibility to Acomai as well as Tajar
Primary School for both learners and teachers. Both schools are located in
Kamutur Sub-county.
Mr Samuel Okere, the deputy
head teacher of Acomai Primary School, told this newspaper in an interview last
Friday that the school has operated under this structure since its inception in
2012, when it was opened to cater for families displaced by cattle
rustlers.
Mr Okere said the previous
three weeks presented the biggest challenge as they had to close the school
because of flood waters.
“As we speak now, the pit
latrine is still filled up with water, but since it is the only one we have,
that is where we run for help,” he said.
Mr Okere said of the seven
teachers they have, four of them commute from the neighbouring Bulambuli
District where they could find suitable accommodation. Uganda President, General Yoweri Museveni
“The other three operate from
Kolir Town Council, which is even harder to reach because of the pathetic road,
which is often water logged,” he explained. The head teacher said like the
children, the teaching staff go without meals throughout the day.
Also, the school’s only
borehole broke down seven years ago. “Every teacher has to carry his drinking
water from home,” he said.
“We don’t wish to operate
under such conditions. Last year, we were promised houses by the Speaker of
Parliament but because of the unpredictability of the water flow, work has not
taken shape,” he added.
Mr Charles Olupot, another teacher, said when there is a downpour, lessons are
postponed.
He asked the government to
construct one more classroom block and more staff quarters.
“We commute every day from Bulambuli, and Kolir to teach here. The nearest
distance is eight kilometres. By the time you reach here, you are exhausted,”
Mr Olupot said.
At Tajar Primary School, the
four classroom blocks have developed cracks as a result of continuous flooding
during the wet season.
Mr James Okello, a teacher,
said whenever it threatens to rain, they suspend lessons and send the children
home.
“Those classroom blocks have
cracks, we can’t risk people’s children to take shelter in there,” he
said.
Mr John Ojakol, the secretary for education at Kamutur, said of the seven
schools in the entire sub-county, four do not have teacher accommodation.
The district chairperson, Mr
Moses Olemukan, said the issue of Kamutur roads, especially those leading to
the Acomai, Tajar and Amujeju, need a bigger intervention from Office of Prime
Minister because the district budget is small.
Mr Olemukan also said the two
schools need a big investment infrastructure, such as setting up teachers’
houses and better classrooms. - Monitor
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