Maracha District Local Government has launched school infrastructure projects worth 854 million shillings in six schools, targeting new classroom blocks, rehabilitation of dilapidated buildings and improvements in sanitation facilities.
The projects, funded under the School Facilities Grant (SFG), cover Buramali, Oluvu, Oleba, Egamara and Midria primary schools, and Yivu Secondary School.
Buramali Primary School will receive a fully furnished two-classroom block at a contract cost of 101 million shillings, while a similar block at Oluvu Primary School will cost 93 million shillings.
At Oleba Primary School, rehabilitation works worth 145 million shillings will involve removing the existing roof and deteriorated building components, followed by repairs or reconstruction of walls, beams and floor slabs.
Similar works will be undertaken at Egamara Primary School for 138 million shillings and Midria Primary School at 142 million shillings.
At Yivu Secondary School, rehabilitation works valued at 235 million shillings will include replacing the roof, windows and doors, and repairing floor slabs and aprons where necessary.
The project will also cover plastering, painting and electrical installations.
The works across the six schools include installation of windows and doors, roofing, electrical works, rainwater harvesting facilities and other site improvements.
Emmanuel Wani, the Maracha District LC V Chairperson, said the investments are intended to provide safer and more conducive learning environments and improve teaching and learning across the district.
Maracha is among the poorly performing districts in the West Nile sub-region. The district has an estimated dropout rate of seven in every ten girls who enrol in primary school.
Poor infrastructure, including dilapidated classroom blocks in several church-founded schools, has been cited as one of the factors affecting educational performance in the district.
Bosco Zakoa, the acting Maracha District Education Officer, said the construction of new classrooms and rehabilitation of existing structures would improve the learning environment and contribute to better performance.
Savior Boroa, a member of a School Management Committee, welcomed the timing of the projects, saying the works would prepare the schools for the next academic year. The projects began in mid-October and are expected to be completed before schools reopen for the first term next year-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
