Amolatar: Otangocinge and Akol primary schools benefit from shs541m infrastructure project

Authorities in Amolatar district on May 7 commissioned school projects worth shs 541 million aimed at improving learning conditions in the district.

The projects include a shs 513 million seven-classroom block and two three-stance pit latrines at Otangocinge Primary School, as well as a shs 25 million five-stance pit latrine at Akol Primary School, both in Abeja sub-county.

The projects were officially commissioned by the Assistant Resident District Commissioner, Sarah Tyan, who called on school authorities to work closely with parents to develop the school and improve its academic performance.

Tyan thanked the government under the leadership of Yoweri Museveni for introducing Universal Primary Education (UPE) and establishing primary schools in all parishes, saying the initiatives have greatly helped to fight illiteracy in Uganda.

She also urged parents to take advantage of government livelihood programmes such as the Parish Development Model to supplement government efforts in supporting their children’s education.

Amolatar district LC5 chairperson and Member of Parliament-elect for Kyoga County North, Geoffrey Ocen Kiring, said the district plans to provide desks to all recently coded community schools to create a conducive learning environment and improve academic performance.

Ocen encouraged parents to enroll their children in school and support the development of these institutions so they can eventually construct teachers’ houses and other infrastructure projects.

He further advised residents to reduce dependence on fishing activities, citing government restrictions in the sector, and instead prioritise education as a pathway to a better future for their children.

Kiring thanked the community for electing him as Member of Parliament and pledged continued support to schools in his new national leadership role.

The Chief Administrative Officer, Rodha Oroma, urged parents to take greater responsibility for educating their children instead of relying solely on government support, which she said is inadequate.

Oroma also warned against interference by foundation bodies in school management, saying it negatively affects learning.

Meanwhile, the District Education Officer, Peter Obote, said his department plans to code more community schools to ease the burden on parents supporting and managing such schools.

Obote encouraged parents to enroll more children in the school so as to enable it to receive increased UPE capitation grants to support development projects.

He added that the district also plans to allocate funds for teachers’ quarters to address the challenge of inadequate staff accommodation currently affecting some schools.