Students are discontinuing their education at Kibuku Senior Secondary School in the eastern district of Kibuku due to the absence of proper pit latrine facilities, according to local authorities.
The school, established in 1982, has experienced a significant drop in enrollment, decreasing from approximately 1,500 students to around 800.
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In addition to the pit latrine issue, the school is grappling with a shortage of classrooms, with some of the existing ones deemed unfit for use by Ministry of Education engineers. There is a pressing need for 15 additional classrooms.
The school’s head teacher, Mr. Fred Samanya, voiced concerns about the dysfunctional pit latrines, stating that they are in a state of disrepair and pose risks to both students and teachers. Furthermore, one of the remaining pit latrines, which was used by both teachers and students, collapsed last year, leaving the school without any restroom facilities.
Due to the insufficient number of classrooms, teachers have resorted to conducting lessons in makeshift spaces under tree shades.
Mr. Samanya reported that the school has reached out to both the district and the Ministry of Education for assistance but has not received any meaningful response. He also highlighted a funding issue, stating that the school should be receiving Shs55 million per quarter but is only getting Shs41 million.
The chairperson of the Board of Governors, Mr. Faustino Waluya, emphasized that these challenges are negatively impacting the academic performance of students, as they spend a significant amount of time searching for restroom facilities outside the school premises.
The District Education officer, Mr. Christopher Wamika, acknowledged the issue and stated that the district had previously sought assistance from the Ministry, which had proposed Shs600 million for rehabilitation. However, due to budget cuts, these funds were not allocated. He expressed hope that in the current financial year, Kibuku SS might receive Shs4 billion for reconstruction as it has been earmarked for rehabilitation.
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