GULU, UGANDA: Gulu City Council has earmarked Shillings 335 million shillings for the construction and rehabilitation of classrooms in five primary schools. This is part of the Shillings 13 billion allocated to the Education Department for the financial year 2022/2023.
The money is meant for the construction of a classroom block at Kweyo Primary School in Bardege-Layibi division at 85 million Shillings, the repair and completion of buildings at Christ the King Demonstration Primary School in Bardege –Layibi division at 60 million Shillings, and the construction of a classroom block at Bungatira Primary School at 95 million Shillings.
Others are the renovation and construction of a new classroom block at Pakwelo Primary School in Pece-Laroo division valued at 85 million Shillings and minor repairs on buildings at Kasubi Central Primary School at 5 million Shillings. Alice Grace Amito, the Head Teacher of Kweyo Primary School in Bardege-Layibi division in Gulu city revealed that the classrooms are temporary. She said that the Shillings 85 million allocated for work on one block comprising two classrooms is still inadequate.
Brian Openyrwot, the Kweyo ward councilor in Bardege-Layibi division in Gulu city revealed that most of the schools in the annexed areas of Gulu city are in a poor state and require a lot of money for their improvement. According to Openyrwot, schools like Kweyo primary school have very old classroom blocks built by development partners. He revealed the classrooms have dusty floors and are without windows.
David Onencan, the Gulu City Council Education and Health Secretary told URN in an interview that the money allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of the classroom blocks is still very insignificant since other schools with equally poor structures are left out.
According to Onencan, the City Council is currently undertaking the renovation and face-lifting of the already existing structures in the schools but in the near future, they will start constructing new classroom blocks as well as improving the furniture like desks and tables. Alfred Okwonga, the Gulu City Mayor, says that the works in the schools shall commence immediately in the first quarter of the next financial year.
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