Ntoroko grapples with shortage of primary schools
KABAHENDA BRIDGET
Authorities and parents in Ntoroko district are grappling with the problem of shortage of schools as pupils have to trek more than 10 KM to access education institutions.
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This problem is the cause of the high school dropout rate and early marriages in the area as some children give up in education all together.
Kansiime Hope, 16, explained how walking long distances affected her education. She eventually dropped out of school.
"From here to Rwenyana primary school is a very long distance. I would reach school late and find the first lesson complete which made me fail exams and I lost interest in education," he said.
After two years out of school Kansiime’s mother urged her to get married.
Some parents said the long distances to schools has left many of their daughters at the mercy of rapists.
A young lady (names withheld) told The Nile Post that men would chase them on the way ending up leaving their books behind.
"We would find men hiding and they would chase us. We would leave our books behind and fear to go back the next day," she said.
The shortage of schools has prompted some parents to wait until children mature in age, when they are able to walk long distances.
In 2008, the community with support from Save the Children mobilised funds and constructed Kacwankumo Parent’s Primary School.
This is the only school in Kimara parish Kanara sub county Ntororko district.
Currently, the temporary structures constructed by parents are dilapidated.
At this school, the teacher pupil ratio is a challenge as two teachers attend to 314 pupils which is the total school population.
Asiimwe Saleh, the chairman LC I Kacwanchumo Cell said they need government support to sustain the school.
According to David Kibonwa, the Ntoroko district inspector of schools, the district applied to government for a code but they have not yet got a response.
