By Gilbert Akampa Kakurugu,
RUKUNGIRI
The school was founded by the Catholic Church in 1945 and was later taken over by the government in 1952, yet it still relies on old, unstable structures made of reeds and mud.
According to George Birungi, the headteacher at Katojo primary school, the school’s management has made several efforts to lobby the government for new buildings, but they have been unsuccessful. As a result, pupils have been forced to study in overcrowded, unstable classrooms, which can make learning incredibly difficult. For example, P6, where there are 90 pupils in one class, is a significant concern due to the capacity of a teacher to handle so many children in one room.
The school management pointed out, in recent years, potentially putting pupils’ safety at risk because of the fragility of the buildings.
Anthony Nshoborokirwe, the Chairman school management committee of Katojo primary school, emphasized that, the parents’ only firm buildings, aren’t sufficient or safe enough for the pupils to use. He expressed his concerns and urged the government and stakeholders to take immediate action to build proper classroom structures.
The level at which students are taught under the trees and cancellation of school sessions when weather threatens, illustrates the dire conditions of Katojo primary school.
These poor conditions undermine pupils’ ability to receive a decent education. It is argued that with the government’s unresponsiveness to requests for aid, the lives, and futures of many children, particularly those from socially disadvantaged backgrounds, could be at risk.
The Katojo school board and community is optimistic that their cry for help be heard, and that by collaborating with the government, they will find a reasonable solution to its infrastructure challenges. After all, every child deserves a safe and comfortable environment in which to learn.
There is urgent need for attention from the Ministry of Education and Sports, as the safety and well-being of the pupils in most government schools is severely compromised due to the deplorable condition of old classrooms blocks.
