The management and Board of Governors of Dr. Obote College Boroboro in Lira City have allocated a total of shs5 billion for the construction of a new, modern science laboratory.
The facility will serve students at both Ordinary and Advanced Levels, aligning with the school’s theme of “Achieving Excellence Through Discipline and Faith.”
Addressing journalists at the school following a board meeting, on Saturday March 21, Canon Thomas Ojok Ability, the vice chairperson of the Board of Governors and also chairperson of the academic, games, sports, and recreational committee, stated that the three-year strategic plan for the construction of the modern science laboratory will run until 2029.
He noted that the project is intended to improve the standard of science education at the college.
Ojok lamented that while Dr. Obote College has traditionally been a science-based school, the goal now is to restore that legacy to meet modern standards under the new curriculum. “We want to compete at the national level,” he said.
“Our new target is to improve science subjects and move forward from the low results we have been achieving at both ‘A’ and ‘O ’ levels,” Ojok explained. “We are promoting training and skills development so that when our students leave school, they are not reliant solely on their results but can access any kind of job they want freely.”
The vice chair further noted that under this new strategic plan, the school aims to strengthen science education, especially as the government is also promoting sciences nationwide.
“Apart from that, the board has agreed to motivate both teachers and bright students in terms of performance, so that teachers can put in more effort,” he added.
According to Rev. Jimmy Francis Odongo, the chaplain of Dr. Obote College who oversees the spiritual welfare of students, staff, and their families, the school is very focused on continuously uplifting its academic standards.
“We want the performance at the end of the year, in both ‘O’ and ‘A’ level, to match the national standard, given that we are already on the map,” he said.
Rev. Odongo also expressed appreciation to the parents, adding that there is a need to intensify mobilisation efforts to improve academic standards through quality teaching.
“We need to raise the level so that our parents can see the value of the education provided by Dr. Obote College,” he said.
He called upon all alumni of the college to join hands and support the project. “We are giving a facelift with the construction of this new modern laboratory, a three-year project that has already started. I call upon all people to come and support this program, because Dr. Obote is one of the schools that has produced great women and men in this nation. Currently, the students’ discipline is improving every day.”
Professor Alex Ario Otema, a board member who also represents the interests of the old students, said his task is to mobilise former students. He added that Dr. Obote College was once a trademark institution in the country for academics, and the goal is to restore it to its past glory.
“In history, Dr. Obote was leading in producing scientists in the country. It has not lost that story; only the standard went down a bit, but we are reverting to where it was before,” Prof. Otema said.
Meanwhile, Rev. Dick Alengo, the head teacher of the College, thanked the board’s academic committee for initiating this progress to ensure the school shines nationwide as a centre of educational excellence.
He disclosed that the school currently has a total of 1,089 students, of whom 102 are female, with over 56 government teachers and 50 non-teaching staff.
The head teacher highlighted challenges, noting that out of the 56 teachers, only 25 are accommodated in staff houses, while the rest rely on rented accommodation arranged by the school. He also cited limited infrastructure, stating that the school currently has only two laboratories, one ICT block, and 60 computers.
“This is why we are building this modern laboratory. Out of the 181 ‘A’ level students at Dr. Obote, only 8 are in arts subjects, while 174 are offering sciences. We want to have a standard modern laboratory according to our proposal. Currently, we have introduced academic performance contracts for students by rewarding the best and brightest,” he explained.
The head teacher announced that Dr. Obote College is preparing to celebrate its centenary, marking 100 years since the school was established in 1927. The celebration is planned for 2027, and all activities will be organised in association with the alumni.
He noted that parents are currently contributing 80% of the school’s activity projects.
Lira City Council Mayor Sam Atul, who is also a board member, pledged that the city’s education department will ensure Dr. Obote College, as a government-aided school, maintains the high standards of educational excellence in the country, just as it did in history.
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