The winds blew off the roof of the block hosting the P1 and P2 classes on Monday and threw some of the sheets on top of a mango tree, under which the teachers were seated whereas others fell next to the block.
James Akeba, the head teacher of Apac Seed Secondary School, says that the school which became operational in January 2020 has been operating in darkness due to the absence of power. Akeba believes the installation of solar power will improve academic performance in the school.
Bosco Elyak, the District Education Officer (DEO) Apac says all private schools which have not registered their learners will be closed and all teachers who are not registered will also be affected.
Peter Obong Acuda, the speaker of Apac District Local Council, who is chairing the organizing committee for the fundraising, says that the government does not have enough resources to improve the status of all schools, which has prompted parents to come in.
Our reporter visited some of the schools on Tuesday and found them none compliant with Fire Safety Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education and Sports in collaboration with the Uganda Police Force.
Peter Obong Acuda, the Apac district speaker, explains that the resolution is in line with the district education ordinance enacted in the 2016/17 Financial Year, and so those who will not send their children back to school will be arrested and made to pay a fine of 200,000 shillings.
According to the ordinance codenamed “Prohibition of Child Marriage 2021”, offenders will now face up to six months in jail or a fine of 20 currency points.
The school with more than 2,000 pupils has classroom blocks that are dilapidated with a leaking roof, broken ceiling boards and sinks, inadequate and non-functional toilets coupled with limited space.
Last year, the government rolled out the revised curriculum for lower secondary schools. About 16,000 teachers were trained to implement the new curriculum, however, Kiswahili teachers were lacking.
The institutions were in March this year hit hard by the heavy rains accompanied by the hail storms that blew off classroom structures and latrine premises, forcing the learners to study under tree shades.
At about 9:45 am, Ibuje Primary School located in Ibuje sub-county Apac district received examination materials meant for Boke Primary School, which is sitting at Alenga Primary school examination centre.
The School headteacher, David Newton Odong, says the positive cases include two girls and a boy. He says the learners first presented with the symptoms of malaria, which was being managed at the school.
Innocent Abongo, the Community Development Officer Chegere Sub County, says many schools in area are still performing poorly due to implementation of the automatic promotion policy.
According to the architectural plan, the facility will comprise of two classroom blocks each with two doors, an office and a store, two latrine blocks for both male and female pupils each with 5 stances, bathing shelters and a 10,000-liter water tank.
According to the 2019 PLE result, Apoi primary school did not get any pupils in first, second and third grade. It, however, registered seven pupils in grade four and nine in division U, out of a candidate class of 16.
Richard Owani, the school headteacher says that pupils in P3, P.4 and P.5 have been sent back home because the rains have greatly damaged the school's buildings.
