Govt school operates in dilapidated structures

Pupils at Kyakaramata Primary School in Kihura Sub-county, Kyenjojo District, are studying in dilapidated school structures that are at the verge of collapse and threatening lives of pupils.
With enrolment of 314 pupils, the government-aided school has only one permanent structure housing Primary One and Primary Two, leaving the rest of the pupils to study in makeshift structures made of wood.
The classes have no doors and windows and whenever it rains, lessons are postponed.
The deputy head teacher, Mr Julius Mugabo, said the school started in 1997 but later closed due to lack of structures. It reopened in 2005.
Mr Mugabo says the five makeshift structures were built by parents as they wait on government to build permanent ones.
The school also has one two-stance toilet that pupils share with teachers.
With the ongoing rains, some pupils miss classes because some structures have leaking roofs.
Mr Mugabo said for the last five years, they have been asking the district authorities to build more classroom blocks in vain.
“We report to our leaders every year but we have not received any response from them,” he said.
A teacher, who preferred anonymity for he is not authorised to speak to the media, said during the rainy season, flood water enters classrooms.
“We are forced to postpone some lessons when it rains but we have nothing to do with this situation and I love my job. I have to teach pupils to pass exams as we wait for government consideration to build for us classes” a teacher said.
The district chief administrative officer, Mr Samuel Kaija, said currently there is no money to put up a classroom block at the school but said it will be considered in next financial year.
In this financial year, district is operating on a Shs32 billion budget, with the education sector allocated Shs12.8 billion.