(This article was first published in the New Vision on September 14, 2022)
By Andrew Masinde
Residents of Bumasikye sub-county in Mbale district have asked the Government to take over a secondary school that they established in 2013 to serve their community.
Before Bumasikye Secondary School was set up, learners in this community walked over 10km to get to Busiu or Musese secondary schools.
The decision was informed by the fact that many children dropped out of school after completing primary level due to lack of a secondary school in their community.
John Mabonga, the acting headteacher, said the school needs more teachers and non-teaching staff as the students population is growing, which is part of the reason why they have requested the Government to take over its management.
The school, which started with 43 students across its O’ level classes, now has 240.
Mabonga explained that the school cannot raise enough money from the fees paid by the students in order to attract and retain the number of teachers it needs.
“We have written many letters to the ministry. They have promised to take over management of the school, but that has not happened,” he said, adding that the school is unable to pay the teachers.
Contributing To Community
Sam Sakwa, the school’s acting board chairperson and one of its founding members, said the school has already made a positive contribution to the community.
Sakwa said at the beginning, they asked parents to send children who had completed primary level to the school and that they hired desks from a nearby primary school.
“At the beginning, the school operated in some buildings that were not being used. Later, we got a licence to operate,” Sakwa added.
He explained that the parents later provided money that was used to construct four classrooms and an administration block, as well as a lab on the land donated by the Church of Uganda.
“We now have 17 people, including teachers, working as volunteers, but some have quit because they only get transport refund,” Sakwa said.
The Government has previously taken over a number of schools started by communities, especially in areas which did not have such institutions.
The Government wants to have a secondary school in each sub-county.
Sam Kuloba, the commissioner for secondary education in the education ministry, said the Government has received the request from the community and plans to take over management of the school.
“It has all the qualities and will be taken over when we get the resources. There are many schools that need support and we do this in a phased manner,” Kuloba said.
What Others Say
Juliet Mutonyi, a teacher at the school, said the takeover of the school by the Government would give her an opportunity to earn a salary as she has served the institution as a volunteer for many years.
Milly Nabalayo, the former councillor and chairperson for health and education at Mbale district local council, re-echoed the school’s need for government support.
Simon Musingo, a parent, said the school has reduced the dropout rate.
“Our girls now have an opportunity to study. Many of them were dropping out of school after primary level because they could not walk to the secondary schools, which were far away,” Musingo said.
