The school has been struggling to extend quality education to students due to lack of classrooms, science laboratories, a library, a computer lab, teachers, and scholastic materials among other things.
The
Ministry of Education has started the process of taking over Kanara Secondary
School in Kitagwenda district.
The school was constructed in 2005 by the community. It has 400 students, 13 teachers and the only secondary school in the sub-county.
However, it has been struggling to extend quality education to students due to
lack of classrooms, science laboratories, a library, a computer lab, teachers, and
scholastic materials among other things. it has two permanent and three mud and wattle classrooms.
On
Monday, Engineer Joseph Kapyate, the Assistant Engineering Officer Ministry of
Education and Sports visited the school to assess whether it was fit for government
takeover.
Some of the requirements that he looked at included the size of the land, availability
of a management committee and its location.
After the assessment, Eng Kapyate said that the school meets all the
requirements to become a government-aided school. He explained that he is going
to report to the ministry that it deserves a grant like other government-aided
schools starting with the next financial year.
Cue in: “This program was…
Cue out… and then submit.”//
George Bavuga, the PTA chairperson, said that they have also been struggling to
pay teachers' salaries. He says that once the government takes over, the burden
will be lifted off their shoulders.
Cue in: “Kutwihaho omugugu gwokuguma…
Cue out… na local government.”//
Fabian Habiyaremye, the Kitwagwenda District Education Officer said that the
school was failing to attract students due to its poor standards. He hopes that
the enrollment will increase and performance will also improve.
Bahati Yasin, one of the students, says that before the closure of schools due
to COVID-19 outbreak, they were forced to study from under trees because of
inadequate classrooms.
He said that once education institutions reopen and the government builds for
the community new structures and equips their laboratories, the learning
environment will be conducive.
Christopher Tusiime
Guest
Ngabirano Gerevazio
Freelancer