By Ronald Alele Ongwech
Amolatar, Uganda – Agik Dak Primary school in Agik sub-county, Amolatar District, is facing severe shortages of essential facilities such as latrine stances and desks.
This shortage is significantly affecting both sanitation standards and academic performance in the school.
Currently, the school has only six functional class room block and three makeshift latrine stances in a dire condition, which are inadequate for the large number of pupils and teachers.
The scarcity of proper sanitary facilities has created unsanitary conditions, making it challenging for pupils and staff to maintain hygiene, and has disrupted the learning environment.
In specific, the semi-permanent buildings that accommodate the Nursery section, Primary one and Primary two classes which were constructed by the government and wattle at least 20 years ago are on a more course of collapse on the learners.
The classrooms have no doors or windows and parts of their supportive walls have already fallen off. Whenever it rains, learners seek refugee under the desks for safety.
The only permanent block which was established by the government, that accommodates the school’s main staff offices, then P7 and P6 also needs great renovation. It currently has no glasses in the windows or doors, and needs re painting and re cementing as they are now dusty
Speaking to Dokolo Post news reporter when visited the school, Agik Dak primary school, head teacher and staff expressed their concerns over the lack of essential facilities.
Vincent Ebuku, head teacher at Agik Dak Primary School, stated that pupils and teachers often face difficulties meeting their sanitary needs due to the limited number of latrine stances.
Ebuku, the headteacher of Agik Dak Primary School, has urgently appealed to well-wishers for assistance, highlighting the school’s dire condition.
According to Ebuku, the lack of essential facilities is severely affecting both students and staff, with sanitation being a major concern.
The school is struggling to provide a safe and conducive learning environment and the headteacher is calling on local communities, organizations and philanthropists to step in and help address the growing challenges.
The school has only 78 desk which can not accommodate large number of pupils .
Mr. Francis Ogweng, a teacher who talked to our reporter revealed that there are no houses and toilets for teachers at the school for their accommodation and teachers have to trek at least 8 kilometers every day to the school to teach which increases late coming and hinders effective teaching especially during rainy seasons.
Agik dak Sub county Chairman Tommy Otanga told our reporter that they are partially aware of the school’s challenges and are planning to visit it soon to access the level of the challenges and how immediately the school can be helped.
Josephine Acen Okullu, DEO Amolatar told Dokolo Post correspondent that the district Educational Department are ware of such challenges and are waiting for new financial year to address the Challenges.
Julius Okello, Catherine Acen, some of the concerned parents want the Amolatar district Education department authorities to intervene, build new classrooms so that their children are saved from the risks of the collapsing classrooms.
