Lydia Nakanwagi the headteacher of Sakabusolo Primary School says that she recruited about four more private teachers to help in teaching learners but sometimes she fails to pay their salaries over low collections from parents.
File Photo; Lukumbi Primary School in Wakyato sub county which is among those which administrators are waiting to be coded
Twelve
Primary Schools in Nakaseke District are struggling to operate without funding
from the Ministry of Education and Sports for four years.
The affected schools are Bwerampindi, Mityomere, Ngando, Lukumbi, Kagongi,
Kimotozi, Natigi, Bulyamusenyu Butalangu, Keshande, Sakabusolo, and Kirangazi
primary schools.
They were constructed by Save the Children and Building for Tomorrow,
Non-Government Organizations to extend education services in hard-to-reach
areas in the district. They were handed to Nakaseke district in 2018 which also
applied for codes and subsequently teachers to teach learners in the schools.
However, a report from the District Education department indicates that to date
the Ministry of Education is yet to approve the district's request.
The report further indicates that the slow process has worsened staff shortage
in existing schools since the district had to transfer some teachers to work in
the community schools till they are coded.
Samuel Bunkeddeko the Chairperson of Sakabusolo Primary School says that the
district transferred three teachers to the school until it is coded by the
government to make more deployments but they are not facilitated to teach the
learners.
" We
asked the parents to pay 30,000 shillings for lunch per pupil and cater for
salaries of private teachers but this has almost failed over poor response due
to poverty in communities," Bunkeddeko said.
Sakabusolo has so far enrolled 150 pupils and it operates up to the primary
five class.
Lydia Nakanwagi the headteacher of Sakabusolo Primary School says that she
recruited about four more private teachers to help in teaching learners but
sometimes she fails to pay their salaries over low collections from parents.
Nakanwagi
adds that she has also failed to get enough recommended textbooks to teach
learners which may affect performance at the end of year exams.
In other schools, headteachers who preferred anonymity told URN that they
would rather return to teach at their old duty stations and the new schools
close until they get codes.
"Am here trying to work but we have no materials. Sometimes I dig into my
own pocket to pay private teachers and buy textbooks. Am tired of working in
this school" a headteacher said.
Stephen Batanudde the Nakaseke District Education Officer says that recently
more additional information about the schools was sent to Ministry on request
and there is a hope that some could be coded so that they can access funding.
Joyce Kaducu Moriku, the State Minister of Primary Education told URN that the
slow process of coding is always due to inadequate funding needed to facilitate
schools.
“We always go slow because we have criteria to follow before coding a school
and as well we need funds to run them after being taken over by the government.
We need to establish whether schools have structures, land, and pupils among
others. " Kaducu said.
She however promised to follow up on the matter with the commissioner in charge
to see whether the Nakaseke schools meet the minimum requirements before they
can be considered.
There are currently 940 teachers who are supposed to teach in the 114
government-coded primary schools in the district.
On average
each school operates with only eight teachers over teacher shortage
notwithstanding those on over sick leave, and maternity among other issues.