Tororo district stuck with 12 un-coded community schools

Tororo District local government is struggling to operate twelve community primary schools that have not been coded by the Education and Sports Ministry.

The schools include Malaba, Agel Gabriel, St. Mark Mella, Paguyuni, St. Peter’s Kinyil, St. Pius Mius, St. Constantino Kisote, Nam
waya Church Uganda, St. Charles Lwanga Asinge, Asinget Community, Morgwang, and St. Joseph Ngetta Community Primary Schools.

The schools have been operating for over 10 years in areas where there are no other government primary schools.

For instance, the Malaba Town Council does not have another government school except St. Jude Primary School that serves the entire Town Council, and other government schools are located in distant areas. 

The school, sitting on 8 acres of land, currently has an enrollment of over 800 pupils and was founded by the town council leadership and the community after parents expressed concern over the distance that their children would move in a bid to attend education.

At the time of its initiation, the council authorities found it easy to merge it with St. Jude primary school and named it St. Annex primary school after parents failed to sustain the welfare of the recruited community teachers, and as a result, the plight of over 800 pupils hung in the balance.

George Alfred Obore, one of the founding leaders, says the establishment of the school in the area saved children from moving long distances to access education; however, the delay in completing the school is frustrating children especially when they reach primary seven classes.

Denis Francis Tabu, the district inspector of schools, says that the schools have met all the required standards for coding, but their application has never been taken into consideration.

He noted that the schools are struggling with operational costs and a shortage of teachers amidst the overwhelming number of learners.

He also reiterated that the community schools, like Malaba community primary schools, have been relying on the teachers recruited and posted under St. Jude primary school, Malaba.

The Tororo district LC5 chairperson, John Okea, says that the council has been advocating for these schools to be coded to enable them to benefit from the government grant some five years back. 

He notes that these particular community schools are facing challenges in buying scholastic materials such as chalk, paying supportive staff, and other operations at school.

Okea 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. 

Mr. Emmanuel Owor, the head teacher of St. Jude primary school, says the proximity of the two schools keeps inconveniencing teachers as the situation forces him as an administrator for the two schools to keep switching teachers weekly.

‘’Some of the teachers find it inconvenient because they have to use their own transport to report on duty, and it has been our prayer that the school is made autonomous,’’ he says, adding that it's also becoming difficult to monitor teachers and pupils' attendance.