Dokolo, Uganda | Headteachers of government-aided primary schools under Amatuburu Coordinating Centre in Dokolo District have raised alarm over soaring pupil–teacher ratios, warning that the situation is undermining effective learning and contributing to poor academic performance.
The concerns emerged during a peer group meeting held at Amatuburu Primary School in Kangai Sub-county, where school heads shared data highlighting severe staffing gaps across schools in the area.
In some of the most affected schools, a handful of teachers are responsible for more than 1,000 pupils. Apenyang Primary School has five teachers handling 1,094 learners, while Aliwok Primary School has seven teachers for 1,050 pupils. Ageni Primary School operates with eight teachers serving 1,456 learners, and Adwila Modern Primary School has six teachers for 1,304 pupils.
Other schools facing similar pressure include Aneralibi Primary School with seven teachers for 1,134 pupils, Anwangi Primary School with 11 teachers for 1,377 learners, and Apewoneki Primary School with nine teachers for 1,038 pupils.
The headteachers said the high pupil–teacher ratios have made effective teaching, supervision, and learner assessment increasingly difficult.
Amatuburu Coordinating Centre Chairperson, Charles Nata Weja, said the meeting also proposed measures such as introducing boarding sections for Primary Seven candidates and hiring PTA teachers to temporarily address the staffing gaps.
The Centre Coordinating Tutor (CCT) for Amatuburu, Rubby Ajwika, urged headteachers to implement the agreed resolutions without delay, noting that collective action is key to improving learning outcomes.
However, both education officials and headteachers emphasized that sustainable improvement will depend on urgent recruitment and deployment of teachers by the district authorities.
