Isaac Dramadri, the Muni University Accountant, who supported the graduates, said the COVID-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for them to deliver the online platform.
In Arua, some schools especially in the central division, former Manibe, Adumi and Logiri Sub Counties have not adhered to the guidelines and have reopened.
During the handover of the learning tablets at Arua public primary school this week, Rachael Abia, the Regional Coordinator Brac-Master Foundation scholarship, said the intervention followed exorbitant charges levied by schools to teach learners during the lockdown.
The eviction was conducted by the Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Arua Sandra Ewacabo after the only quarantine centre at Arua Nursing School got filled up. Fifteen contacts are currently quarantined at the school.
To date, the Board has awarded loans to 10,041 students, majority of them pursuing undergraduate degree programmes in public and private universities as well as other tertiary institutions, across the country. However, leaders from West Nile, say that the number of beneficiaries from their region is worrying.
Out of nine staff attached to the department, only three staff who include the senior Inspector of Schools, Education officer in charge of special needs and Sports officer are now left to run the department, overseeing more than 176 government-aided primary schools, 200 private schools and over 1,000 teachers.
Marino Acia, the Arua District Education Officer, says the transfers are aimed at boosting performance, saying some teachers have been mistreated by communities to the extent of burning down their houses due to rifts warranting their transfer.
According to records, 413 candidates who sat failed totally after obtaining grade 4, U and X, while 545 obtained 3rd grade, 1,400 got 2nd grade and 279 obtained 1st grade.
Her father Albert Oruma, who crashes stones for a living said he only discovered his daughters hearing challenge last year after he asked the mother to send her to school in Arua. Although the condition was not publicly known to the teachers at St. Daniel, a private primary school in Manibe Sub County, they detected a problem with ‘the new pupil.’
Monsignor Kasto Adeti, the Parish Priest of Ediofe Cathedral parish and Fr. Nakari Adiga the chairman board Bishop Frederick Drandua Foundation both claim ownership of the school.
The meeting, called by Rev. Fr. Nakari Adiga, the chairperson of Bishop Frederik Drandua foundation, which is currently running the school, was blocked by Monsignor Kasto Adeti, the Parish priest of Ediofe Cathedral branding it illegal. He argued that the Parish, on whose land the school is located is responsible for convening the meeting.
During the weekly media briefing at their Northern region offices in Arua town on Wednesday, Elia Alitia, the DP Vice President for Northern region said the torture, molestation and destruction of student property by security officers shouldn’t go scot free.
Alekua, who trained from the Institute of Teacher Education-Kyambogo –ITEK in the ’60s, was a chemistry teacher at Teso College Aloet, before joining Arua Secondary School as a Deputy Head Teacher. He retired in 2006 after a stint at Nyarilo S.S. where he served as a headteacher.
The warning followed a round of tension during the Arua district post-primary athletics competitions at Barifa Stadium, in Arua, where hundreds of stick-wielding students, engaged police in running battles for two days as they attempted to attack colleagues from rival schools.
Charles Draecabo, the President West Nile Education Trust Fund during in a press briefing in Arua town on Saturday said in addition to addressing the educational needs of the needy, the foundation will also address the root causes of poor performance of children in the
region.
Marino sounded the warning following reports that some teachers were still maintaining the strike despite a pronouncement by the Uganda National Teachers Union to end the industrial action.
The Examinations body became suspicious after discovering a live correlation of answers for all the candidates in the two centres, implying that the learners could have had advanced knowledge of the questions.
Anthony Dradria, the newly appointed Arua Municipal Engineer told the team before he was picked up that several road projects have stalled due to lack of funds.
