Pupils in Ntoroko District are no strangers to makeshift learning environments. Decades ago, many children sat under trees to study due to widespread poverty and a lack of infrastructure among other reasons.
Formal classrooms were a luxury, and makeshift shelters became the norm for students eager to receive an education.
Fast forward to the present, where schools in districts like Ntoroko and Kasese finally have the infrastructure to support proper learning.
Modern classrooms had replaced those trees, giving hope for a better future. However, nature has once again disrupted education.
Torrential floods have submerged schools, leaving children without safe learning spaces. As the third and final term of the academic year begins, pupils in these districts find themselves back to basics this time, studying in tents.
In Ntoroko District, and Kasese districts, massive flooding, wiped out roads and drowned classrooms. In Ntoroko particularly, Masaka Primary School and Umoja Primary School were among the hardest hit. UNICEF, in a swift response, has provided high-performance tents to act as temporary classrooms.
It’s an unfortunate step back for the community, as students are once again forced to learn in improvised spaces, despite years of progress.
The situation in Kasese District mirrors that of Ntoroko. Flooding has also wreaked havoc, displacing thousands and submerging school facilities.
What was meant to be a term of intense learning and preparation for final examinations has now become a struggle to adapt to life in temporary shelters. The uncertainty and disruption caused by the floods threaten to derail the educational journey of these pupils.
“It’s back to school season! Every child deserves a chance to learn, grow, and reach their full potential,” noted UNICEF.
The organisation’s swift response has been crucial in ensuring that education continues, despite the challenges. “Let’s work together to keep children in school, even in the toughest times,” they urged.