RDC DIRECTS IMMEDIATE EQUIPPING OF MANAGO PRIMARY SCHOOL IN MADI OKOLLO DISTRICT WITH DESKS

Some of the learners in Manago Primary School sitting on the floor and others sitting on the broken desks. PHOTO BY ROBERT ELEMA 
 
By Robert Elema
 
Madi Okollo
 
The leaders of Madi Okollo district were on Wednesday left in shock after discovering that Manago Primary school in Rhino Camp Sub County Madi Okollo district has only 46 desks for the learners in the school.

The leaders came to know about this matter when they had gathered at the school to commission 3 blocks of five stances of VIP latrines and a borehole constructed by Welt hunger hilfe, a non-governmental organization operating in the settlement on Tuesday.

Ms. Rasil Edoboru the head teacher of the school said, the school started in 1991 as a Catholic founded school and it became government aided in 1996.
Ms Edoboru said she was posted to the school in 2022 and that she got the school in a bad state.

“The issue of infrastructure was a big problem here in the school but others have been addressed like the sanitary facilities and borehole. What has remained an issue in the school is inadequate sitting facilities and shortage of classrooms”, she said.

“We have an enrollment of 1706 learners from P.1-P.7 but there are only 46 desks for the whole school. Majority of the learners in this school sit on the floor while attending lessons and they use the thigh to support their books while writing”, she added.

She said, the lower classes use a dilapidated structure with its floor with a lot of dust and this is a health hazard to the children and that their clothes get dirty frequently.

LEARNERS SPEAK OUT
A primary five pupil Sabina Abiko says, the issue of desks in the school is really a big problem and doubted why the education department is not picking concern about their school. “We have the right to attain quality education but this has been denied for us by the leaders who are working in the offices of Madi Okollo district”, she said.

“In our school here, the Classes from P.4-P.7 are the ones using the few desks but classes from P.1-P.3 don’t have sitting facilities completely. There is congestion in the few desks that the upper primary classes are using because a desk is shared by 4-6 learners”, she added.

Another Pupil from P.3 class, Godwin Anguandia says their class is always very dusty and there are a lot of problems associated with sitting in the dust. “I have always been affected by a cough because of too much dust and sitting down became a burden to our parents. Our parents spend a lot on acquiring soap to wash our clothes daily but some children continue to come to school with dirty clothes because it’s hard for the parents to afford soap”, he said.

LEADERS RESPOND
Mr Shiraj Ondoga the secretary for works and technical services said, the committee of works and technical services has come here in Manago Primary school to include the committee of social services for monitoring and supervision.

He said the issue of desks including classrooms has already been acknowledged in the school but with time, the issues will be addressed. “We are aware of the challenges Manago Primary school is facing. We haven’t forgotten about the school but it’s the financial constraints that limits our intervention in service delivery”, he said. 

“In this financial year, the issue of Manago Primary School has not featured in the budget but since the issue has been acknowledged, the department has planned to procure desks to the school. What I can say is, the school will soon receive desks including classroom block”, he added.

Mr. Joshua Masereka the Madi Okollo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) says, it’s a shock and surprise to him to see the whole school having only 46 desks.
“I am not happy with the number of the 46 desks that serve the whole school, yet the enrollment of the school is over 1000 learners. It’s really a shock to me and I must go and confront the District Education Officer over this matter’’, he said.

“We must touch here and there and ensure that we get a partner to supply this school with seats sincerely. This is an emergency issue now and we must look for desks and bring them for this school”, the RDC directs.

The RDC said, these are government children; they shouldn’t suffer the way they are suffering now and they should sit comfortably while attending lessons.

He added that they don’t want their children to sit in the dust and in turn get infections and that learning needs a conducive environment.