Gulu | At least 350 of the 560 pupils enrolled at Pawel Angany Primary School in Patiko sub-county, Gulu district, have been left stranded, forced to study under the trees.
This occurs as renovation work begins in the middle of the rainy season.
The Gulu district local government received shs79.98 million from the School Facility Grant for the fiscal year 2024-2025 to renovate four classroom blocks, an office, and a store at Pawel Angany Primary School.
Recently, heavy rain and wind blew four classroom roofs off.
Lawino Betty Bongonyinge, headteacher of Pawel Angany Primary School stated that while renovations are underway, 350 lower class pupils are affected by a lack of classrooms, forcing them to study under a tree.
“My fears as the contractor confirmed: it will take two months to complete the works, during which time it will affect learning in the first term; this call for district leaders and well-wishers to rescue the situation at Pawel Angany Primary School,” Lawino said.
Lawino went on to say that on November 13, 2024, heavy rain and wind blew off our four classrooms, one office, and store, prompting the Gulu district local government to request funds to renovate the affected class.
“As school administrators, we are looking for alternative ways to build temporary structures to accommodate all affected learners who are studying under the tree in order to avoid bad weather while we wait for the contractor’s work to be completed.”
Lawino also urged parents whose children attend Pawel Angany Primary School not to panic about the current situations. “They must provide complete support and monitoring of the work in order to avoid problems and delays.”
Opoka Geoffrey Oniba, chairperson of Parent Teacher Association (PTA) at Pawel Angany Primary, said district leaders have yet to respond to requests for tents during the first rainy season.
Opoka adds that the contractor has confirmed that the work will be completed by May 19, 2025. At Pawel Angany, the majority of affected learners are in lower classes P1, 2, 3, upto P4 and are unable to cope with bad weather.
“Many children and parents in Patiko sub-county are uninterested; parents are unable to provide food items for their children to feed in school, which affects the level of education in entire Gulu district; only a few schools in Gulu practice a school feeding program,” Opoka told tndNews.
He revealed that there is a high rate of school dropout in the upper class, where lower class enrollments from P1 to P5 will be one hundred or more. He said less than ten pupils will enroll to sit the primary living examination, calling for a community mindset change on education in Gulu district.
“Pupils from upper class are afraid of repeating the same class after failing another class, which is fueling a high rate of school dropout in upper classes in Gulu district, primarily in Pawel Angany.
“This year, only 7 pupils have registered for PLE, forcing the school to look for more candidates to register from elsewhere to qualify for a center number with a minimum of 15,” Opoka revealed.
Patrick Komakech, LC3 chairperson of Patiko sub-county, confirmed that the site was handed over to “Odens Bricks Company SMC Limited” in March 2025 after a bidding process by the district.
The renovation will cost shs79.98 million. Komakech revealed that the renovation work started on Sunday, March 23 following a handover ceremony by district leaders led by Gulu CAO.
He advises the constructors who have been awarded contract to expedite the construction process in order to avoid the central government returning funds made during the fiscal year to consolidated funds before completion.
Komakech also urged Patiko residents to take advantage of this period for monitoring in order to avoid delays and not to rely on the district’s lower local government to do so.
Gulu district education officer (DEO) Jackeline Akello, stated that while the site has been handed over for construction, efforts will be made to complete the work within two months due to the upcoming financial year.
Akello also encourages full community participation in education as we strive to close significant gaps in education and achieve educational success similar to other districts.
“The level of ignorance of the local community and lack of public information awareness on education is putting down learning in Gulu district,” Akello said.
Gulu district has a total of 47 government headed primary schools in all the sub-counties and only five secondary schools in only five sub-counties.
Vicky Atim, Gulu district LC5 vice chairperson said they’re calling for collective efforts from parents, school to rescue stranded children who are studying under the tree at Pawel Angany primary school.
The district is attempting to rally support from well-wishers in order to purchase tents, she said, adding that Gulu district local government lacks the funds to purchase tents for 350 stranded learners, which will have an impact on learning.
“Gulu district is lacking a lot of parental cares for children, this is fueling high rate of teenage pregnancies and school dropout. Our parents’ life style toward education is too poor,” Atim said.
Teenage pregnancy in Gulu district stand at 26 percent. Young girls aged are getting pregnant to young boy, she revealed.
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