NEWS– Kakoki Public Primary School, a government-aided school in Bukamba village Nyabushenyi Sub County Ntungamo district is on the verge of collapse putting lives of both the learners and their teachers at risk.
The school which existed since 1970s was initially an initiate of Kakoki Hiika Catholic Church but only stopped at P2 until its government takeover in 2004.
After it became government aided, the school started offering education to P6 and later to a full Primary level (P.7). It serves a great population especially from Nyabushenyi and Nyabihoko Sub Counties.
In specific, the semi-permanent buildings that accommodate the Nursery section, Primary one and Primary two classes which were constructed by the parents using mud and wattle at least 20 years ago are on a more course of collapse on the learners.
The classrooms have no doors or windows and parts of their supportive walls have already fallen off. Whenever it rains, learners seek refugee under the desks or run to Kakoki Hiika Church for safety.
The only permanent block which was established by the government, that accommodates the school’s main staff offices, then P7 and P6 also needs great renovation. It currently has no glasses in the windows or doors, and needs re painting and re cementing as they are now dusty.
The school is also faced with acute shortage of teachers (understaffing) as it has 6 total teachers and a total enrollment of 252 learners. Some of the teachers are not paid by the government and only survive on the parents’ support.
A teacher who talked to our reporter on conditions of anonymity revealed that there are also no any teachers’ houses at the school for their accommodation and teachers have to trek at least 25 kilometers every day to the school to teach. This increases late coming and hinders effective teaching especially during rainy seasons.
Julius Karira, Catherine Ahebwa, Sophan Agaba some of the concerned parents want the Ntungamo district Education department authorities to intervene, build new classrooms so that their children are saved from the risks of the collapsing classrooms.
The Ntungamo district Chairman Sam Muchunguzi Rwakigoba told our reporter that they are partially aware of the school’s challenges and are planning to visit it soon to access the level of the challenges and how immediately the school can be helped.
