Namutumba: Primary school pupils study in appalling conditions

Government aided Katengereire Primary school in Namutumba district has no adequate permanent classrooms.

The school with seven classes has only two classrooms and the rest of the learners study under trees.

Elizabeth Kasuubo Mutibwa, the school headmistress, said they dismiss some of their learners when it rains.

Officials from the Ministry of Education and Sports who were inspecting the progress of Global Partnership for Education support project in different schools in Namutumba district were shocked to find learners at  Katengereire Primary school studying under trees.

This is compounded by the lack of seats which makes the learning environment appalling to many pupils who sit on bare ground during lessons.

An improvised makeshift structure which acts as the staff room for teachers is also in a sorry state.

The school has only one pit latrine shared by pupils and teachers.

Kasuubo revealed the torrential rains this season have affected them greatly and many pupils are asked to go back home due to inadequate shelter.

Muhammad Isiko, the Namutumba District Education Officer, appealed to the Ministry of Education and Sports to come to the rescue of the school since the district is financially incapacitated.

He revealed that reports on his desk indicate that more than five schools have no pit latrines after they sunk due to the constant rains.

The assistant commissioner in charge of Instructional Materials in the Ministry of Education Simon Peter Tukei said the ministry will put much emphasis on school infrastructures in the next phase.