Kanungu- Lack of learning facilities both learning and sanitary are affecting school operations at Rushaka primary school in Kanungu district.
Located in Rushaka parish, Nyamirama sub- county Kanungu district, this government school is grappling with significant challenges that hinder the learning environment for its population of over 1500 pupils.
Despite being a government school, the school is not only facing a dire shortage of classrooms but also a shortage of toilets.
The school head teacher Mr Rwamahe Milton highlighted the struggle of the school most especially during the rainy season.
‘’ Due to lack of class rooms , most of our pupils are forced to study under the shelter of trees and when it rains learning stops a thing that hampers effective learning of learners’’. Mr Rwamahe said.
Mr Rwamahe added that ‘’ whenever the rain pours, pupils congest in one classroom, and even others remain exposed on the Verlander’’.
The school head teacher also said the School has only two pit latrines and they are woefully inadequate for the increasing school’s population.
‘’ The situation is a great challenge to our female learners because they outnumber their male counterparts. When nature calls, our girls often endure long queues for access to these limited facilities, affecting their comfort and dignity ’’. Mr Rwamahe added.
The Kanungu district Secretary for social services Mr Kenneth Tumuhamye said the office is very aware of the situation at the school.
‘’ We are aware about the situation of the school but the good news is that the government is set to grant 100 million shillings to complete a four-classroom block, initiated by the parents ’’. Mr Tumuhamye said.
Mr Tumuhamye also asked the government to prioritize education infrastructure and avoid discouraging parental contributions to school development funds.
“As government we can’t provide adequate facilities and services for all schools without robust government support,” He emphasized.
The Kanungu district education officer Mr Adam Shaban said he has already submitted their plea to the Ministry of Education for support.
‘’ I have already submitted a report about this school to the ministry of education, ICT and sports. So what I can say is that we are trying truth and nail to have this school helped. In short we are not seated’’. Mr Shaban said.
Mr Shaban added that ‘’as a district, we are also working around the clock to ensure that we address the problems of Rushaka primary school ‘’.
The plight of Rushaka Primary School underscores broader challenges faced by educational institutions in rural areas, where inadequate infrastructure and resources hamper efforts to provide quality education.
As the school stakeholders await concrete action from authorities, the future of hundreds of pupils studying at Rushaka primary school hangs in the balance, caught between the promise of education and the harsh realities of their learning environment and unless something is done their dreams of becoming important citizens is likely to fail.
Kanungu district has a total of 215 of these 135 government aided while 85 are privately owned.
