In a bid to increase access to free secondary education, the government has constructed seed schools across the country. Out of the proposed 259 schools, 117 have been commissioned to operate as day schools in sub-counties without government seconday schools. Headteachers in most schools have converted some classrooms, laboratories and libraries into boarding facilities, writes YUDAYA NANGOZI.
When schools finally reopened in January, Ritah Ruth Ayato’s grandfather enrolled her in Nyakwae Seed SS in Abim. Although he was aware that the newly-constructed school had an illegal boarding section, he was satisfied that Ayato would no longer trek about 15 kilometers from his home in Apeipopong village to the school.
“On many occasions, I would reach at school late because the roads are insecure for girls in the morning. On rainy days, I would miss lessons because it can rain heavily from 6am to 6pm. So, when a child is not at school, they cannot study,” Ayato, a senior two student, said.
At the school, she stays in the newly-commissioned school library with hardly a bed inside. Nevertheless, she said all is well with her and the other students. Ayato is among the 76 boarding students at Nyakwae Seed SS that are objecting to the government’s directive to close boarding facilities erected at all the new seed schools.
The farthest day student currently walks about 16km to school. Whereas a few students ride bicycles, the majority walk to and from school. Nyakwae Seed SS is meant to serve parishes of Opopongo, located 40km away from the school, Rogom 10km, Kobuli 8km, Apeipopong 15km, and Oreta which hosts the school.
Whereas the government insisted that boarding facilities would be an extra burden to parents in terms of fees, at Nyakwae Seed SS, parents agreed with the school management committee to contribute Shs 150,000 for their children.
The money caters for firewood, grinding maize supplied by World Food Programme (WFP) and parents termly, tomatoes, salt, and other spices. WFP also provides free cooking oil. James Emuge, a senior four student, who joined the school last month, applauded the school for opening an ‘illegal’ boarding section. Emuge has been studying at privately-owned John Eluru Memorial SS in Kapelebyong where he couldn’t afford the termly fees of Shs 250,000 and boarding at Shs 290,000.
“When my parents learned that Nyakwae Seed charges Shs 150,000 only for boarding, it was some relief. It was also safe for me since Karimojong often pass via the road to our home in Kobuli village after raiding animals and proceed to Moroto,” Emuge said. “They don’t only raid animals but also kill people along the way during daytime. So, a boarding section was the best option for me.”
Nyakwae Seed SS started as a community school in 2010 before it collapsed in 2012 due to inevitable conditions which could not be contained. In 2019, the school was selected as one of the 117 seed schools to be constructed under the Uganda Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers (UgIFT) phase one program. It is not only the first government seed school but also the only secondary school in Nyakwae sub-county in Abim district.
The sub-county has only five government primary schools – something that has not attracted private proprietors at primary and secondary levels. As a result, most P7 leavers have been either admitted to Abim SS located about 35km from the new school or Morulem Girls SS, about 25km from Nyakwae.
Abim has 10 sub-counties, six town councils, 72 parishes and 534 villages. The district has seven government-aided schools and one private secondary school. At the primary level, 38 parishes lack primary schools.
NOT ALL IS ROSY
With the prevailing insecurity in the Karamoja sub-region, a day school is not ideal for learners, according to Filbert Okech, the acting head teacher of Nyakwae Seed SS. Okech said the existence of dormitories will also positively impact student enrolment in subsequent years, currently at 90.
In January, the school had registered 293 prospective students but only 90 turned up due to the lack of a boarding section. Okech wondered whether the other students enrolled in other schools or dropped out of school.
“This school will not be effectively utilized if the boarding section is closed. To catch up with the syllabus, we converted some new classrooms and the library that are empty to house the students. Currently, all of them sleep on the floor but it is better than trekking long distances and falling into traps of cattle rustlers,” Okech said. He added that the sub-county has inadequate means of transport – no taxis, boda bodas, and a few bicycles.
When asked how students will utilize the library, now dormitory, Okech had this to say.
“We are still using some small office space in the office of the director of studies since we have a few textbooks. When we get textbooks in large quantities meant for the library, we shall see what to do. In the meantime, the parents have agreed to lay some bricks and construct some dormitories for the girls, first, just in case the library space is urgently needed.”
Meanwhile, both Ayato and Emuge confessed that staying at school has come with some challenges. Studying largely ends during daytime since the school lacks electricity.
“At night, we use small torches with battery cells since the school banned use of candles in the dormitory. It’s also unlikely that someone can revise with ease using a torch throughout the night,” Emuge said.
There are three electricity poles connected to the school by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) but no wires in place. The school also needs wiring and underground cables “which may be expensive for a new school like ours.”
A senior four candidate who is due for final Uneb exams starting October 2022, Emuge was also concerned that the new school has not been equipped with apparatus for students to study practical lessons.
“The laboratory is a big hall with fixed bunsen burners but no other equipment. We wonder how we are going to sit practicals and compete with other students in the country. I have never held any laboratory equipment since I joined secondary education.”
TIMELY INTERVENTION
The District Education Officer for Abim, Charles Dickens Owiny, said if boarding sections cannot work in other districts, the Karamoja sub-region should be cleared to have dormitories at every seed school.
“Children learn much better without interference when they are in boarding because some Karimojong here still do not value education. This intervention is timely and I believe it is going to improve on the education services in this sub-county,” Owiny said. He added: “Girls would be safer in boarding section during the learning period. There are too many teenage pregnancies when they are at home. Also, in most settlements where the children come from, they are faced with a lot of insecurity from cattle rustlers but when they come to school, their security is guaranteed.”
At Nyakwae, he said, learning started before construction was completed due to the dire need for boarding facilities.
As the quest for boarding sections soars, the spokesman of the ministry of Education, Dr Denis Mugimba, insisted that all USE seed schools are day, except those expressly given a waiver by President Museveni. He said waivers are mainly given to schools in the islands, Karamoja, and Sebei sub-regions.
“To the best of our knowledge, no new USE seed school has been granted that exemption under UgIFT seed schools so far. The commissioner in charge of government secondary schools is also not aware of any waivers for the current batch of seed schools. It is illegal to set up a boarding without a written waiver from the president,” Mugimba said.
Meanwhile, Owiny urged government to increase capitation grants sent to secondary schools in hard-to-reach areas like Abim for effective management of schools. Currently, the capitation grant for USE schools is Shs 57,000 (O-level) and Shs 90,000 (A-level) per child, per term.
