World Bank builds a Shs2 billion school in Otuke
OTUKE – The World Bank has constructed classrooms, staff accommodation and an internet communication technology block at Ogor Seed Secondary School in Otuke district to ease access to higher education and reduce dropout rates.
The area (Ogor sub-county) is located 20 kilometers away from Otuke town and access to secondary education was a burden to parents.
According to the local leadership, children would stop at primary seven and drop out because of poverty, long distance and negative attitude towards education. The area has two primary schools, Ogweno and Atanggwata Primary Schools.
“This area is isolated and has no secondary school,” says Qunto Ojok, a former LC5 Councilor who represented the sub-county to the district.
“The long distance to Orum S.S, abject poverty and negative attitude towards the education of the girl child hindered most parents from sending their children to join secondary level,” he adds.
After sensing danger, the community started the school in 2012 with 68 students.
Christine Adongo, the school’s Headteacher joined the school after graduating with a bachelors degree in education in 2013 as a volunteer.
“My friends disagreed with me but I told them I was molded to work in a harsh environment like Ogor,” she adds.
“When I joined, my parents started giving me a monthly wage of Shs 50, 000 and was given accommodation in a small hut within Ogweno,” she recalls. Two years later she was appointed by the district to caretake the school.
“The school had infrastructures and in 2019, I requested the government to put up structures since students’ enrolment had increased to 250,” she explained.
“There were no classrooms and staff accommodation but the 68 students were studying in a classroom offered by Ogweno Primary School,” says Adongo.
However, under the World Bank’s project of intergovernmental fiscal transfer, they constructed three classroom blocks, science laboratory, three twin houses, two VIP stances of VIP latrines, library and an ICT block worth Shs 2b.
The District Education Officer (DEO), Qunito Odongo said the school has the best structures and with time it will overtake Adwari Secondary School.
He advises the community to embrace development saying the district was still lagging behind in performance both primary and secondary.
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