Rukungiri- Every morning of Monday to Friday of every week, the over 500 pupils of Rwenshama primary school in Ruhinda sub- county Rukungiri district trek long distances from their homes to school with hopes of becoming responsible citizens in future after completion of studies.
But the conditions in which they attend the school give a lot to be desired and unless something is done to improve their learning environment their dreams will remain unfulfilled.
This government school built in 1968 by the church of Uganda to enable learners to acquire nearby education services has not received any facelift, not even a single classroom block has ever been constructed by the government apart from paying teachers who are also not enough for the increasing school’s population.
With an enrolment of over 500 pupils, the school faces infrastructural challenges such as cracks on the wall, dusty floors, leaking roofs with holes and lack of sanitary facilities among others.
Ms Asiimwe peace 45, a parent with 3 children wants the government to give the school a facelift.
‘’For very many years we have been voting NRM and we are good supporters of this government but why is it punishing us as if we are not Ugandans? Our Children are studying under trees and easing themselves in sorry stated sanitary facilities of which collapsed about one month ago’’. Ms Asiimwe said.
Ms Gloria Nuwagaba, another parent, asked the government to intervene as the lives of their children are in danger.
‘’We are here fighting alone. Our leaders are aware of our school’s situation because we have been informing them. About a month ago, the only toilet collapsed. We were lucky that on single life was lost but the situation is getting worse on a daily basis so the government should intervene as quick as possible’’. Ms Nuwagaba said.
The chairperson of Parents and Teachers Association, Ms Doreen Aniembabazi, said it is a pity that the only school in the parish operates in dilapidated structures.
‘’The parents are now threatening to take their children to other schools in fear of their lives. About 3 months ago, one of our classroom blocks collapsed following heavy rains that hit the area. The whole roof was blown off by wind and the building collapsed immediately. We informed our leaders at the sub- county and at the district level but we haven’t received anything like support from them’’. Ms Aniembabazi said.
The head teacher, Mr Tweizibwe Julius, said the school has on sanitary facilities, leaking classrooms, inadequate teachers which he said to be affecting the smooth running of the school operations.
. “The school is in a sorry state for sure because all the roofing materials of all seven classrooms are rotting, ants, some have even developed cracks, we thank God that he enabled us to finish the second term before losing a life,” Mr Gumisiriza, said.
He added: “The coming term will be full of rain and our classrooms can’t contain learners when it is raining. So, I am not sure whether we shall open for the third term, if it happens and we open, we will be using the church to shelter the learners.”
Mr Gumisiriza said they have informed the district authorities through the education department and the area Member of Parliament (MP) about the state of the school in vain.
The Rukungiri district principal education officer, Mr Jackson Turyahumura, said the district is very much aware of this school saying that they have already sent a team to visit and assess the situation of the school.
“We are aware of this school. As the district we are doing what it takes. So let them remain calm,” he said.
School’s performance in last year’s PLE exams.
In last year’s primary leaving examinations, the school failed to get any candidate in division one but only got 5 in division 2, 8 in division 3 and 20 in division 4 according to the school head teacher Mr Tweizibwe Julius
