Excitement as sub-county in Masindi district gets first govt secondary school
MASINDI, May 26, 2024 - Leaders in Masindi district have launched the construction of a Shs 2.7 billion first-ever government secondary school in Miirya Sub-county.
The parents welcomed the project with joy and excitement, saying the school named Kinumi Community Seed School, when completed, will improve academic standards in the area. Currently, students from the area foot long distances to access secondary education.
Beatrice Kaija, a parent from Kinumi village noted that some of their children have been dropping out of school at the primary seven level due to the lack of a secondary school.
"We thought government had neglected us but after seeing engineers on site, we are very excited and grateful to our leaders and the government," she said, adding that some parents have been sending their children to Masindi town for secondary education but monitoring them is a big challenge.
Speaking during the launch in Kinumi village, Livingston Kyotamanya, the LCIII Chairperson Miirya Sub-county, said learners from the area have been trekking long distances of between 8-10 kilometres to access nearest secondary schools.
"Most of the children have been dropping out at primary level because they have no hope of attaining secondary school education. We have many youth who haven't completed ordinary level of education in this area because of a lack of a government school," he added.
He noted that out of 60 pupils who complete primary seven at Kinumi Primary School only 20 join secondary schools."The ones who join secondary level are from homes that can manage to send them to Masindi town to study. It's now our role to mobilise more students to join the school when its construction is completed," he said.
According to Joseph Sunday the Acting District Engineer, the construction of the new school will take 18 months and is to be undertaken Semwo Construction Company.
For phase one, Sunday added that two classroom blocks are going to be constructed, two unit science laboratory, an administration block, two unit teachers' house, an ICT library, VIP latrines and a sports field among others.
For his part, Aled Ronald Akugibwe, the Buruli County Member of Parliament who also doubles as the Chairperson Board of Governors of the school said Miirya Sub-county had existed for 42 year without a government secondary school.
"The time for lamenting of trekking long distances and children being spoilt in town is now over. What we want to see is value for money. Let's feed the school with students and also provide them with the necessities required. I expect the community to benefit in all aspects," said MP Akugibwe .
Eng. Moses Semwo, whose company is undertaking the construction of the school, promised to deliver quality work and in time. He however, asked for cooperation from the community for the effective execution of the work.
On his part, Adolf Kato, the Senior Education Officer Masindi district assured the locals that the school will bridge the the secondary education gap they have been facing.
The Chief Administrative Officer Masindi, Phionah Sanyu warned the contractor against shoddy work. "I want to see value for money. Do this work as a citizen not as a Ugandan. I don't want us to run after each other," she said.
She asked the parents and the leaders to mobilise their children, saying they expect the new school to accommodate about 1,500 students.
The Resident District Commissioner Masindi, Emmy Ngabirano called upon the leaders to also put much emphasis on primary level education such that the new secondary school gets sharp students
https://thecooperator.news/govt-urged-to-priotise-early-childhood-education-in-primary-schools/
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