By Robert Edwomu
Soroti – 3, November 2021: The Chairperson Parliamentary Committee on National Economy John Bosco Ikojo has revealed that the government is processing yet another loan from the World Bank through the International Development Association (IDA) of the World Bank Group.
The loan is up to U$90 million. One purpose for borrowing is to improve secondary school education in the Pearl of Africa.
Ikojo who doubles as Bukedea County MP, disclosed that his committee is due to approve the education loan aimed at expanding secondary education services more so structural development.
Wednesday afternoon, TND News did a simple mathematic of US$ 90 million to Uganda shillings and it came to shs320, 373,450,000.00 billion.
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The MP said the loan will have a total of 108 secondary schools across the country constructed. Teso sub region will have seven [7] schools in Kalaki, Soroti, Katakwi, Kumi, Bukedea districts and others.
“The loan comes with a UGX60 million grant to be used in the refugee hosting community of Isingiro, Adjumani and other areas to improve the livelihoods of people living in those areas,” he further told our reporter.
He said the decision to borrow from the World Bank is derived by looking at the magnitude of challenges faced by the secondary education sector.
During a countrywide tour to ascertain the statuses of secondary schools, his committee found that the schools were affected by numerous problems which among others include: shortage of structures to accommodate the learners, lack of titles for learning institutions, and many more.
Jonathan Ebwalu is the Member of Parliament Soroti City West Division. He asks the committee to consider and increase the number of schools to be constructed in Teso focusing on the low education standards.
He says Teso faced numerous insurgencies that affected its education system therefore calls for immediate revamping to help the community.
“Access to quality and affordable education is still lagging behind as many sub counties operate without secondary schools contrary to the Ministry of Education Policy to have a secondary and technical school in every sub county,” Ebwalu noted.
Uganda continues to borrow, and according to the Bank of Uganda data, country’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020 stood at 49.80 percent.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) debt limit is 50 per cent cap of debt-to-GDP ratio which Uganda is at the verge of reaching.
For nearly two years, Uganda schools are closed due to Covid-19 pandemic. Lower primary and secondary schools’ doors continue to be padlocked until January 2022.