Kasese District Local Government
allocated part of its funds from Belgian Development Agency (BTC-Uganda) under
the Institutional Capacity Building Project to support Sub Counties in hard to
reach and live primary schools with Low Cost Staff Quarters.
Despite the efforts of
Kasese District Education and Sports Department to improve the welfare of the
teachers in hard to reach and live primary schools, the contractors of some
schools like Nyamughona (Contractor-Yanghis), Kamatsuku and Kibirigha (Contractor-BWASI)
primary schools have frustrated and breached the M o U between Kasese District
Local Government and the Belgian Technical Agency (BTC-Uganda) the Potential Funders
of Low Cost Staff Quarters for teachers in Kasese district.
In a letter dated 20th
March, 2012 from the DEO’s office to the Chairperson School Management
Committees of these Schools, the Ag. District Education Officer, Mr. George
S.Mainja noted with dismay how the contractors have breached the M o U and not
meeting the specifications in the Terms of Reference (ToR).
On 10th
August, 2012 Muhesi Nicholas Programme Officer- for Social Accountability and a
CPF- Mr. Julius Mugabi supported by Hivos visited Nyamughona Primary school.
In an exclusive
interview with the Head teacher Mr. Baseja Josephant (0783359549), classroom
teacher Mr. Eriab Thembo and Mzee Njumba Kesi Bwambale PTA representative and
concerned parents of Nyamughona Primary School in Picture above revealed that
they are not satisfied with the works on the building as it was shoddy and
remained incomplete. The building has developed major cracks and murram from
the wall is being washed by rain. what
the contractors do to frustrate the UPE Programme in hard to reach schools.
The purpose of low cost
staff Quarter houses was to reduce the late coming and absenteeism of teachers
who walk long distances to catch up with the morning lessons and remedial so as
to improve the academic standards and performance in these strong hold UPE
Primary schools.
When we were at the
scene, it was noted that the above uncompleted two bed room staff quarter was
contracted in FY 2009/2010 and construction commenced in 2010 now down the road
the building has been abandoned with no clear explanation from both the
contractor, Sub County leadership and the Kasese District Local Government.
The building is now a
white elephant inhabited by the Cattle as they welcomed us in the compound.
This portrays a bad image to the BTC and the Kasese District Local Government
as it is a wastage of Tax payers money.
The parents, School
Management Committees, PTAs and the general community are concerned about the
fate of their children how they will begin third term on 3rd September,
2012 next term without teachers, latrine stances and classrooms.
The school has only one
permanent building that doubles as an administration block, book store, common
staff room and a P.7 classroom which was built by former regime of Yokasi
Bihande as LC V Chairperson.
To curb and support the
retention rate in the school, parents have initiated a PTA/SMC development
Project to supplement the only one permanent building. They are molding bricks.
The parents have constructed a semi permanent mud and wattle four classrooms with
support from Area Hon. MP. C. Kiyonga who donated about 30 Iron sheets during
his campaigns in 2011 General Elections.
The lack of seriousness
of the contractors in Nyamughona Primary School has negatively impacted on the
school academic performance and retention rate. Most of the parents have
shifted their pupils to other schools such as St. Joseph-Nyamughona, Kasanga,
Kamatsuku and Muhindi primary school which is far from their homes.
The enrolment of
teachers stands at 7 males and 01 female and 169 pupils with 84 males and 85
females.
It was revealed that
because of inadequate infrastructure such as classrooms, latrine stances play
ground for Physical Education and staff quarters both teachers and pupils have
threatened to shift to different schools. For example Nyamughona Primary School
used to be a P.7 UPE school but due to low retention rate the school is now a
P.6 UPE school. Thus a
The school has no
permanent latrine stances but has 2 make shift temporary latrine stances which
are shared between teachers and pupils. ‘Imagine your sons and daughters in
such a sore state of school.’
However, due the poor standards of living and
parents attitude, the learners do have adequate scholastic materials though the
progress of academic performance has been hindered. Other causes for poor
standards of education have high dependency on subsistence farming/ poor
farming methods, inability to afford lunch for the learners, Lack of role
models in the area. Low literacy rates in the area as a result of low household
incomes and superiority complex of men. (Mind set and attitude)
The
rural water coverage is at 90%. A big area is water stressed and therefore
fewer technologies can be used to provide safe water.
I appeal to the Sub County leadership, Kasese
District Local government-Education and Sports Department to approach UNICEF
through SNV-Connecting People to support Nyamughona Primary School such that it
benefits from the Hard Ware under the Community Empowerment Programme that
gives Sanitation and Hygiene Facilities to Schools in hard to reach and live
schools in Kasese district.
KALI will continue monitoring government
programme to reveal shoddy and poor workmanship in the Education Sector.
By
Nicholas Muhesi
KALI
KALI
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