At Pajar Primary School, both pupils and teachers are battling harsh learning conditions caused by a chronic shortage of desks and chairs.
The situation has turned classroom instruction into a daily challenge.
“More than half of the pupils at the school are forced to sit on the floor during lessons,” said Moses Musobo, a teacher at the school.
“This has become a norm because we simply don't have enough desks or chairs for all the children.”
Teachers also face similar hardships. “We have no proper seating,” Musobo added. “I often find myself sitting on the floor to mark books or prepare lessons for the next day.”
Headteacher Kizito Okello described the shortage of furniture as a major obstacle to learning.
“The lack of desks and proper classrooms has greatly affected our students’ ability to concentrate and learn effectively,” he said. “This is a problem that requires urgent attention.”
Okello noted that the absence of proper infrastructure has affected academic performance, as pupils struggle to focus during lessons.
“When children are sitting on the floor, it’s hard for them to engage fully in the lesson. It affects their participation and overall learning experience,” he explained.
He appealed to the government and development partners to intervene. “We need desks, we need proper classrooms, and we need a conducive learning environment for our students,” Okello said.
Despite the challenges, teachers at Pajar Primary remain committed to providing education to the children in their community.
“We are doing our best under these conditions, but we need support to make learning better for these children,” Musobo said.
The crisis at Pajar Primary reflects a broader problem across Karamoja, where many schools lack basic facilities.
Local authorities and parents are urging government intervention to improve infrastructure and secure a better learning future for children in the region.
