Community members in Anyara Ward, Ayivu West Division in Arua City, have launched initiatives to address school dropout and improve academic performance among learners in the area.
Through their umbrella body, Anyara Equals Association, the community has started engagements aimed at raising awareness about the importance of education and identifying factors contributing to school dropout and absenteeism.
Weekly market days at Odramacaku Market and CP Trading Centre have been identified as some of the factors affecting school attendance, with some learners reportedly missing classes or dropping out altogether to participate in business activities.
Adriko Robert, the Secretary of Anyara Equals Association and councillor representing Anyara Ward on the Ayivu Division Council, said addressing the challenges requires joint efforts from parents, schools, community leaders and other stakeholders.
The community’s efforts to improve education in the area date back to 1998, when residents established Anyara Cope Primary School to address the lack of access to primary education. The school initially operated from makeshift structures constructed on land provided by a church, with parents supporting the initiative and volunteer teachers conducting lessons.
However, the school struggled due to a lack of professional teachers and inadequate space for learners. Before the government began supporting the school in 2004, it had collapsed and remained closed for several years.
According to the School Management Committee Chairperson, Angundru Ponzio, the community’s continued efforts have since contributed to improvements at the school. He said collaboration between local council chairpersons, school administrators and community members is helping to address the impact of weekly markets and night discos on school attendance.
Anyara Cope Primary School has recorded a significant increase in enrolment, from 638 learners last year to 1,400 in the current academic year.
The school currently offers education from Primary One to Primary Six, with the increase in enrolment partly attributed to the construction of two new classroom blocks and the posting of 13 teachers. However, the increased enrolment has also created new challenges.
The school Head Teacher, Ajio Margaret, said the school now faces shortages of teachers and desks, as well as limited land for further expansion. She said the shortage of desks is affecting the teaching and learning environment despite the increase in the number of learners.
The community’s efforts have attracted support from city leaders, who have called for additional government investment in education. Arua City Woman Member of Parliament, Osoru Mourine, acknowledged the challenges facing the community, particularly in the education sector, and called for increased budget allocations through the city council to address teacher shortages and the growing demand for desks.
Similarly, Ayivu West Division Member of Parliament, Onzima Phiona, said although infrastructure at Anyara Cope Primary School is improving, more needs to be done to provide additional teachers and desks.
The community has also introduced several interventions aimed at keeping learners in school. Recently, the Anyara community organised a career guidance session for learners, awarded best-performing pupils, and donated food items to Anyara Cope Primary School to support its feeding programme.
The feeding programme is intended to encourage learners to remain at school during break and lunch hours. Local Council One chairpersons, together with other community leaders, also conduct regular home-to-home operations to identify children who are staying at home and engage their parents to ensure they return to school.
Community leaders also regularly engage operators of weekly markets and discos in the area, urging them to ensure that children attend school during lesson hours instead of participating in business activities on market days or attending discos.
The community says the combined efforts are intended to improve school attendance, reduce dropout and create an environment in which children can remain in school and improve their academic performance-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
