By KT Reporter
The management of Arubaine Islamic Primary School in Busia Municipality is grappling with overwhelming pupil numbers, which have hampered the proper learning process. The school, situated on a 100-by-100-foot plot, began as a community initiative in the late 1990s and received government aid in 2004 through the Muslim Foundation. It currently has only eight classrooms but hosts an enrollment of about 2,000 pupils, from nursery to primary seven.
The school faces multiple challenges, including pit latrines constructed in front of classrooms, leaving the entire premises choking and exposing learners and teachers to the risk of contracting diseases. In addition, it lacks enough furniture, forcing five to six pupils to squeeze onto a single desk, while others sit on the floor. Headteacher Hassan Wafula says they are struggling with the overwhelming number of learners and have no space to accommodate them.
He adds that the shortage of furniture makes it difficult for pupils to write during lessons due to congestion. Wafula notes that despite repeatedly writing to the Busia Municipal Council authorities, no intervention has been made.
Hamis Nasulu, the chairperson of the School Management Committee, says parents have entrusted the school with their children, but the institution is struggling to operate on such a confined piece of land. He attributes the growing enrollment to the school’s strong academic performance, good discipline among learners, and its affiliation with the Islamic foundation.
Residents, including Namakula Sharifa, James Wanyama, and Jessica Alungata, say they prefer taking their children to Arubaine Islamic Primary School because of its proximity and good performance. They appealed to the government to buy land for the school and construct more classrooms.
Busia Deputy Town Clerk, Johnson Wafuba, revealed that reports highlighting the school’s challenges have already been forwarded to the Ministry of Education for intervention. Busia Municipal Council Speaker, Juma Odero, said the congestion issue has been tabled in council.
He noted that the council is considering encouraging residents to donate land so that the government can allocate resources for new construction. Odero attributes the problem to the school’s wide catchment area and the lack of another primary school in the densely populated North East B parish.
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