Kibuku struggles with 960 pupils using 4 classrooms
Students of Kibuku Secondry School conduct lessons under a tree last week. PHOTO | MUDANGHA KOLYANGHA
What you need to know:
- The government-aided school with an enrolment of 960 pupils has most of its structures dilapidated, posing a huge risk to the lives of learners and teachers.
The leadership of Kibuku Senior Secondary School in Kibuku District has decried inadequate classrooms, which has left students to study from under trees.
The government-aided school with an enrolment of 960 pupils has most of its structures dilapidated, posing a huge risk to the lives of learners and teachers.
Mr Fred Ssamanya, the head teacher, said the school only has six classrooms.
Of the six, one classroom is being used as a staff room while the other houses the computer laboratory.
“Most times, lessons are disorganised by rain. This is a serious challenge,’’ Mr Ssamanya said on Tuesday, adding that the school also lacks pit-latrines.
Kibuku S.S was established in 1982 in Kibuku Town Council, approximately 3km from Kibuku District headquarters.
“Calls have been made to the district and the Education Ministry to rescue the situation, but unfortunately no response has been given,” Mr Ssamanya said.
He further revealed that since the inception of the school, the government has only constructed a two-classroom block under a World Bank-funded project.
“Most of the school structures, including the administration block, are in a deplorable state,” he said.
In terms of funding, he said the school is supposed to receive Shs55 million but instead they get Shs41 million.
“The ministry is still using the old figure and yet the number of students increased,” he said.
Mr Abubakar Nanghejje, a member of the board of governors, said the learners have resorted to using the nearby bushes to ease themselves.
“The state of buildings is alarming. It is worse, especially during the rainy season. Business at the school comes to a standstill,” he said.
The chairperson of the board of governors, Mr Faustino Waluya, told Daily Monitor that most of the structures have been condemned for demolition.
“This situation is compromising the academic performance of students because they spend most of the time seeking places of convenience,” he said.
Some of the personalities who have studied at the school include Ms Jennipher Namuyangu (State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs) and Mr Abdu Byakatonda (Workers’ MP), Mr Robert Kenno (member of Uganda Scientists, Researchers and Allied Workers Union), and Mr Saleh Kamba ( former State Minister for Bunyoro Affairs) among others.
District efforts
The district education officer, Mr Christopher Wamika, said the district is aware of the challenges and they are still working with the Education ministry to address them. “The ministry had proposed and planned Shs600 million towards rehabilitation, but because of the budget cuts, the ministry failed to realise the funds,”Mr Wamika said.
