Pupils of Kodonyo Community Primary School, pausing in front of their new classroom block that was constructed by Save the Children under the SESBiLL project.
Moroto District local government is struggling to operate
seven community primary schools that have not been coded by the Education Ministry.
The schools include Nanyidik, Nakiloro, Kidepo
Pupu, Kodonyo, Loletekia, Atedeoi, Lokeriaut, Morulem, Kosiroi,
Lopelpel, Kaleurot, Nataparkwangan, Timungorok, Lomelan, Kakingol, Musupo and Musas
community primary schools.
The schools have been operating for over 15 years in areas
where there are no other government primary schools. For instance, the Lotisan sub-county
does not have another government school except the Atedeoi community primary school which serves
the entire sub-county, and other schools are located in the hard-to-reach
areas.
The schools used to have between five and seven teachers
each before Save the Children introduced the Strengthening
Education System and Bridging Learning Loss (SESBiLL) project that recruited
nine teachers per school in the five community primary schools in Nadunget,
Lotisan, Tapac, and Katikekile sub-counties in the project, which began in June
2021 and runs for three years.
However, the project ended in May, and the
teachers who were under the project departed. As a result, the plight of over
7000 pupils hung imbalance as the third term opens next week.
Markson Akol Ojao, the Moroto District Education
Officer said that the schools have met all the required standards for coding
but their application has never been taken into consideration.
Ojao noted that the schools are struggling with operational
costs and a shortage of teachers amidst the overwhelming number of learners. He said that several reports have been written to the
education ministry to have the schools coded so that they can recruit more
teachers all in vain.
Ojao said that although other partners like Welthunger
supported them with Classroom blocks and teachers accommodation, they are
still struggling to operate without government support.
He also reiterated that the community schools have been
relying on the teachers recruited under the project by Save the Children
and when it closed they were also withdrawn.
Moses Lokwii, the Moroto Education Officer said that
they have been advocating for schools to be coded to benefit from the
government grant all in vain.
Lokwii said the community schools face challenges in buying
scholastic materials such as chalk, paying supportive staff, and other
operations at school.
Lokwii reiterated that the ministry has kept promising
them to have their schools coded but this has not been fulfilled. He added that
this is a crucial issue affecting children since the schools are struggling to
deliver services due to limited resources.
He also noted that the parents are unable to contribute any
money towards the development of the school and the entire support comes from well-wishers
and other partners.
Lokwii wondered why the leaders were pushing for free and
compulsory education for all the Karamojong children when they could not help
the schools get codes.
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John Robert Adupa, the LCIII Chairperson Lotisan sub-county
said that they only have Atedeoi community primary school serving the entire sub-county.
Adupa said that the school is currently grappling with the
challenges of teachers after Save the Children withdrew their support staff
who were recruited for the project.
He said that sometimes only two teachers are allocated to
teach a class that has an enrollment of over 300 learners.
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John Achia, the Moroto district Secretary for production
said that they have been pushing for the schools to be coded for the last two
years but their efforts are futile.
He said that they had submitted about seven schools which
were prioritized to be coded first but up to date nothing has been done.
Achia said that the schools are relying on partners such as
Tororo cement company, Welthunger, WFP, and other well-wishers that have
supported them with food. He added that the schools have also been borrowing scholastic
materials from other government schools.
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John Muyingo, State Minister for Higher Education while
meeting with Karamoja leaders in Moroto district vowed to forward the
matter to the education ministry and have it settled.
Muyingo noted that the government trying everything possible
to ensure that all the children go to school and complete the educational
circle.
He said that they plan to have a government primary school
in each parish and a secondary at each sub-county where children will study at
free cost.
Muyingo noted that the Ministry is waiting for the resources
to start implementing the plans.
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In August, a parliament session that sat in Gulu city
adopted and passed a motion urging the government to formulate free compulsory
boarding school education for the Karamoja sub-region.
