ALEBTONG, March 11, 2024 – Plan International has refurbished a classroom block at Okokolako Primary School in Omoro Sub-county, Alebtong district.
The facility rehabilitated at the cost of Shs 140 million was handed over on Saturday by the Government Chief Whip, Denis Hamson Obua. It accommodates pupils from primary five to seven.
According to the school’s headteacher, Alex Acir, it has challenges of inadequate classrooms, shortage of desks, and lack of a water source among others.
He requested the Alebtong District Local Government and other development partners to rescue the school, saying good facilities are needed for better performance of the pupils.
The headmaster said the school has the enrollment of 1,368 pupils yet has only 76 desks, leaving pupils in P.1 to P.3 to sit on the floor.
“The classrooms and desks are not enough. So we are requesting the district and development partners to intervene and save us,” he said.
On his part, Isaac Apenyo, Chairperson, Parents Teachers Association, also the Omoro Sub-county LCIII Chairperson, asked Plan International to consider rehabilitating another dilapidated block at the school, fearing it could soon collapse.
He said since Alebtong district split from Lira district in 2010, most of the classrooms have been blacklisted due to the bad state they are in.
Simon Eluk, a parent, said due to inadequate classrooms, lack of desks and the bad state of the classroom blocks, some children, especially those in lower primary are dodging school.
The Regional Manager Plan International, Patrick Emukule said the facility falls under its project aimed supporting the enrollment of at least 100,000 children in school, especially girls and refugees.
He said under the arrangement, Plan International has so far constructed 54 classrooms in nine districts and will continue to build and rehabilitate more. Among the beneficairy districts are Lira, Alebtong, Madi Okolo, Kamuli, Buyende, Nebbi, Adjumani, and Yumbe.
“The project aim is at ensuring that up to 100,000 out of school children especially girls in refugee communities enroll back to school, supported to stay and complete school,” he said.
He added Plan International also supports marginalised children to enroll back to school and have their right to a safe, inclusive, child friendly and gender-responsive quality education.
“I am sure this is the vision of our government in areas of education that all children should be supported to realize their rights to quality education,” he noted.
Obua applauded Plan International for rehabilitating the classroom block, saying the school was dogged with a number of notable challenges such as lack of desks and dilapidated structures.
https://thecooperator.news/minister-okasaai-advises-alebtong-residents-on-pdm-emyooga/
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