Kitagwenda School Struggles to Raise Chalk Dust in Deplorable Infrastructure

Despite being a government-aided school with an enrolment of nearly 400 pupils, the school has only four permanent classrooms, which house Primary 1, Primary 3, and Primary 6 to Primary 7.

Kyarwera Primary School in Ruhunga Sub-county, Kitagwenda District, is grappling with inadequate classroom infrastructure, leaving both teachers and learners frustrated.

Despite being a government-aided school with an enrolment of nearly 400 pupils, the school has only four permanent classrooms, which house Primary 1, Primary 3, and Primary 6 to Primary 7.

The remaining classes, from Nursery to Primary 4, are taught in three semi-permanent classrooms constructed by parents.

Uziah Tukamwesiga, the headteacher of Kyarwera Primary School, expressed grave concern over the deteriorating condition of the semi-permanent classrooms.

He warned that the buildings, weakened by constant rains, are on the verge of collapse, endangering the lives of students and teachers.

“We only have four permanent classrooms, and they’re insufficient for the number of learners we have. The rest study in old buildings, and we fear for their safety whenever it rains. Sometimes, we have to adjourn lessons or merge all students into one class to protect them,” Tukamwesiga explained.

Vincent Azokikyire, the Director of Studies, echoed similar concerns, stating that the limited infrastructure makes it difficult for teachers to provide an optimal learning environment.

"Teachers in these semi-permanent classrooms can't even pin learning materials on the walls due to the rough surfaces. We use threads to hang materials, but the wind often blows them away,” Azokikyire said.

The School Management Committee chairperson, Erick Musinguzi, criticized the government for neglecting the school.

He revealed that parents have been forced to step in by organizing community work to renovate some classrooms, but government support remains elusive.

“I believe the government doesn't care about this school. Since it was built in the late 1980s, no effort has been made to address these issues,” Musinguzi lamented.

Tukamwesiga called on the government to prioritize the construction of permanent classrooms to ensure a conducive learning environment.

“If the government could build at least four more classrooms, it would vastly improve the situation for both learners and teachers,” he urged.

In response, Kitagwenda District Education Officer Sedas Asiimwe acknowledged that Kyarwera is not the only school facing such challenges.

However, he clarified that schools with two or fewer classrooms would be prioritized for infrastructure development before Kyarwera could be considered.

“We are focusing on schools that have two or fewer classrooms first. Once those are addressed, Kyarwera will be considered in the next phase of funding,” Asiimwe explained.

In the previous financial year, Kitagwenda District's education department received a budget of Shs13.96 billion, yet many schools, including Kyarwera, continue to struggle with inadequate infrastructure.