The sorry staff housing and classroom structures are to blame for the poor educational outcomes in government schools in Kamuli district, the education authorities have revealed. Kamuli District Education Officer, Joseph Waibi says that most of the staff quarters are dilapidated while others have collapsed.
He disclosed this while commissioning a classroom block worth 100million Shillings at Bulogo primary school donated by Platinum credit Uganda Limited, a microfinance institution. According to Waibi, there are 1900 teachers deployed in different primary schools across the district but the majority commute from distant areas to their workstations due to the lack of staff houses.
He explains that some of the classroom blocks and dilapidated and unfit for learning purposes.
Angela Aliyinza, the head teacher of Bulogo primary school in Namwendwa sub-county, says that through a fundraising initiative by parents and well-wishers they managed to construct a makeshift house for the primary one-class teacher and security guard. He explains that most classrooms at the school are dilapidated and they are currently relying on well-wishers to give them a facelift.
Jonah Isabirye, a teacher at Nabuwigulu primary school says that most teachers walk about 10 kilometers to their duty stations, which lives them fatigued and affects their concentration in class. He explains that most parents are opting for private schools where teachers are sourced from nearby communities and are closely supervised to ensure improved performance of the learners.
Waibi also decried the low staffing levels as one of the key challenges affecting learning in government-aided schools. He revealed that the district school inspectorate is manned by three inspectors charged with overseeing 800 learning facilities ranging from nursery schools to primary, secondary, and other institutions of higher learning.
