Parents urge govt take over Tororo school to improve education standards

Parents in Katajula Sub County, Tororo District, are calling on the government to assume control of St. Joseph Julius Oketcho Memorial Community Secondary School, citing the need to improve education standards in the region.

The school, which opened its doors in early 2025, currently enrolls 15 students. It was established following a resolution by local residents, who were alarmed by the increasing number of primary school graduates unable to access secondary education, despite achieving good results in their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

However, the school faces significant infrastructure challenges, lacking proper classrooms and forcing students to study under trees. This inadequate learning environment has led to some students dropping out.

Parents emphasize that while the sub county is home to five primary schools, the absence of a secondary school means many children are forced to abandon their education prematurely.

Alice Stella Nyaburu, a resident of Mukwana West village, explains that rainy seasons disrupt regular classes, further hindering students’ ability to complete their curriculum. She adds that the nearest secondary school is located 5 to 7 kilometers away, making it difficult for many students to attend, with some eventually dropping out.

"Honestly, we feel overlooked by the government. Our sub-county is one of the few without a secondary school, even though we have primary schools that could feed into it. It’s not too late to change this," Nyaburu said.

Othieno Obbo, a parent who recently enrolled his daughter in Senior One, shared that efforts to build two classrooms had stalled at the foundation level due to insufficient funding. He believes that with adequate infrastructure, the school could offer accessible, free secondary education to all students in the community.

John Ochwo Baasi, the chairperson of the school’s board of governors, noted that the Catholic Church, through the Tororo Archdiocese, had donated five acres of land for the school. However, they lack the financial resources to begin construction of the required classrooms.

"Currently, we have baked bricks ready for burning, but even basic supplies like wood logs are beyond our reach. We urgently need the government’s assistance to take over the school and help us complete what we’ve started. This area desperately needs a secondary school," Ochwo Baasi said.

He pointed out that the absence of a secondary school in the area has exacerbated illiteracy, with many children dropping out after completing primary school.

Betty Nyachwo, the sub-county LCIII chairperson, appealed to local legislators to advocate for the school’s government takeover, which would relieve parents from the burden of financing teacher welfare.

She attributed the high crime rates in the area to limited access to education, which leaves many young people unemployed and without the qualifications necessary to compete for jobs.

The school’s head teacher, Vaal Onyango, stated that although the school has qualified teaching staff, the lack of updated learning materials hinders effective teaching. Currently, they are only offering Senior One classes, with plans to introduce Senior Two in the near future.

Albert Odoi, the Tororo District Education Officer, acknowledged the community’s request for government support, noting that the government has prioritized the construction of secondary schools in traditional sub-counties. However, there is a need for such schools in newly established administrative units, which are similarly large in size.

“We’ve received the request to take over the school, and we’ve advised the community to ensure the land is properly registered to avoid any future complications. While the government has always aimed to establish secondary schools in every local government area, we are currently constrained by the lack of available land,” Odoi said.

He also highlighted the high illiteracy, child marriage, and unemployment rates in Katajula, stressing that the absence of a secondary school contributes significantly to these issues.

Budama North Member of Parliament, Max Ochai, praised the community’s initiative, describing it as a strong show of support for secondary education. He assured residents that the government would not hesitate to take over the school’s management.

“I am impressed with the community’s efforts, and this initiative demonstrates a commitment to education. My office has already started the process to have the school incorporated under the Seed Secondary Schools program,” Ochai said.

He thanked the church for donating land for the school and encouraged parents to enroll their children in the institution.

Rebecca Akumu, the district LC5 vice chairperson, confirmed that a list of sub-counties without government-aided secondary schools had been compiled and forwarded to the Ministry of Education and Sports. These include Magodesi Town Council, Iyolwa Town Council, and several others across the district.