Rising Water Levels Block Candidates From Re-Opened Schools in Amuru.

At least 19 primary seven candidates from Mutema Primary school are struggling to have routine lessons after water levels of three streams increased, cutting off road access to the school. 

The water levels of Icayi and Twolo streams and Omer river have been rising for three weeks now as a result of torrential rains being experienced in the district, cutting off students from the respective areas to the school. 

Rose Ataro, a Primary Teachers Association member from Mutema Primary school says the water problem has persisted since 2011 including last year, when it killed one candidate who slipped and fell in Omer river while returning home from school.

Ataro says that when government announced the resumption of schools, Mutema Primary school did not meet the 60% requirements set by the ministry and district but they opted to resume lessons while children come from their respective home's.

She says as a result, several candidates have been forced to sleep in homes neighboring the school for fear of drowning in the fast flowing water. 

According to Ataro, all the 30 candidates will be studying from the school as required by the ministry of education when they return for the last term in December after the school met the requirements set by government and the district education committee.

//Cue: "Peko me pii

Cue out: ... Ikin luwedigi"//

Apollo Okello, the Secretary Health, Education and Sports, Amuru district says the district has advised the parents and school management to use two of the classrooms as dormitories for the learners in the third term to allow them concentrate on their studies.

According to Okello, the district council had started discussing what should be done to improve accessibility of learner's to several schools which have been affected by overflowing streams and rivers in the district.

Last year, one of the candidates, a girl did not sit for her final exams after she was cut off by the water levels of Icayi stream, which joins Omer River.