Gov’t reviewing status of school facilities ahead of reopening

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Ministry of Education and Sports has embarked on reviewing the current status of school facilities ahead of reopening in January.

Following the closure of schools due to the covid-19 outbreak, there has been deterioration of school facilities. In Nakasongola, at least 1,500 pupils may fail to find where to study when schools reopen in January next year due to lack of funds to renovate their learning classes which had flooded. In other districts, school property has been stolen or vandalized.

Ketty Lamro, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education has directed the Chief Administrative Officers and Town Clerks to urgently identify the needs for each school.

According to Lamro, the assessment should be limited to critical facilities that include classroom blocks, laboratories, administration blocks, sanitary facilities and furniture. She requested that all local governments should urgently undertake the assessment activities and make their respective submission before November 5.

“Following the review, the ministry will communicate its findings, including where applicable, the approval scope and guidance on the implementation,” she added.

The Minister for Higher Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo says that many headteachers had abandoned the schools leaving them in shambles.

During his address to headteachers at the just concluded S.1 and S.5 selection process, Muyingo noted that several schools across the country are in a poor state.

However, several headteachers attribute the state of the schools to the government’s decision to stop releasing capitation grants to schools.

Last week, the Education Ministry bowed to pressure and released 50 percent of the first quarter capitation grant for all government-aided schools to ready them ahead of scheduled January reopening.

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