By KT Reporter
Several schools in the Agago district have struggled with teacher retention for years because of poor accommodation and other sanitary facilities at school.
To break this cycle of instability, where students lose valuable learning time due to their mentors’ constant departure, local leaders and parents have launched an aggressive fundraising drive to build accommodation for teachers in Lira Kato and Lapono sub-counties.
The first school to benefit from the initiative is Ogwang Kamolo Primary School, located in Ogole Parish in Lapono sub-county.
The school was established in 1986 and has an enrolment of 820 pupils coming from eight villages.
Led by Peter Odok w’ Oceng, the former chairperson of Agago district, the parents have already laid 78,000 bricks to aid the construction of decent houses and latrines for teachers.
Richard Odongtoo, the Lapono sub-county Senior Assistant Secretary, said all roofs of the teachers’ grass-thatched houses have been infested by termites, making them unfit for habitation.
Odongtoo commended the local leaders for mobilizing their wives and community members to take part in laying bricks for the building project.
Richard Mario Oceng, the chairperson of PTA, said they decided to mold the bricks because of the poor performance in the school they believe is a result of the uncomfortable living quarters of teachers.
David Okongo, the head teacher of Ogwang Kamolo Primary School, said comfortable accommodation is a requirement for anyone to perform well at the workplace.
Okongo revealed that because of the dilapidated teachers’ houses, “teachers cannot settle”, which affects their concentration in class, hence, poor performance of learners.
Peter Odok, the Chairperson Organizing Committee for the fundraising, noted that the exercise, which will take three months, will hopefully address the pressing needs of the school.
Odok revealed that they have resolved that each month, every household in Lapono should contribute 20,000 shillings towards the construction of the teachers’ houses.
Besides households, each chairperson of every village is expected to raise 2,000 shillings, LCIII to contribute 50,000 Shilling each month, LCV Chairperson 500,000 per month, the chairperson organizing committee will raise one million shillings, Members of parliament will each raise a minimum of one million shillings, and aspiring MPs should contribute 200,000 Shilling.
Odok added that after building teachers’ houses in Ogwang Kamolo Primary School, the drive will continue to other schools in Lira Kato sub-county, to support both primary schools and other institutions.
Other schools in line for the fundraising drive are: Amyel Primary School, Ongalo Primary School, Kaket Primary School, and Aywee Palaro Primary School.
Mathew Lagen, the Lapono sub-county Chairperson LCIII, pledged that in July, the sub-county will deliver 25 desks to Ogwang Kamolo Primary School worth 3.6 million shillings.
Lagen appealed to other community members to join hands in supporting the cause, to shape the future of the children and the district.
Leonard Ojok, the chairperson of Agago district, praised parents for their great initiative in supporting the education sector, saying quality education is key, but the district’s resources are inadequate to support it fully and timely manner.
“Quality education is key to unlocking the potential of children, and the unity to support education demonstrates the parents’ commitment to empowering the next generation,” Ojok said.
Beatrice Akori, the Agago woman Member of Parliament, praised the parents for their initiative to support the education sector, saying it is a sign of hope for northern Uganda.
Akori rallied the communities to embrace government programs like the Parish Development Model (PDM), Generating Growth Opportunities and Productivity for Women Enterprises (Grow), Uganda Women Entrepreneurship Program (UWEP) and Emyooga so that they are economically empowered to support the country’s growth and development-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
