Kaliro School faces loss of UNEB Centre Number over lack of science lab

Kaliro, Uganda: Namwiwa Senior Secondary School in Kaliro District has appealed for urgent government intervention after the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) threatened to withdraw the school’s examination centre number due to the absence of a functional science laboratory.

The alarming development emerged during a monitoring visit by the Office of the National Chairman (ONC) Coordinator for Kaliro District, Wabwire Andrew Goole, who is currently inspecting government schools across the district.

During the visit, Wabwire was received by senior teacher Kyebogola Noah and later held a meeting with Deputy Headteacher Sekamanya James, who briefed him on the institution’s mounting infrastructure crisis.

Sekamanya said the school appreciates the Government of Uganda for taking over its management in 2011, a move that helped improve academic performance and increased student enrolment from about 300 learners to more than 1,000 today.

However, the sharp rise in student numbers has exposed severe shortages in critical infrastructure, putting pressure on the school’s ability to provide a conducive learning environment.

The administration revealed that UNEB has warned that the school risks losing its examination centre status because it lacks a science laboratory — a requirement for candidates offering science subjects in national examinations.

School leaders say losing the centre number would severely disrupt students who depend on the school to sit national examinations.

Severe sanitation and infrastructure shortages

Apart from the laboratory challenge, the school is grappling with acute sanitation and facility shortages. More than 1,000 students currently share a single toilet facility used by both boys and girls, while over 30 teachers rely on one staff toilet.

The school also lacks a library, an administration block and staff houses for teachers.

According to Sekamanya, no major government infrastructure project has been constructed at the school since it was taken over from community management more than a decade ago.

“We have written several letters to the Ministry of Education and Sports and engaged the planning unit seeking intervention, but we have not yet received a response,” Sekamanya said.

While touring the school, Wabwire witnessed the difficult learning conditions faced by students.

A sudden rainfall interrupted lessons for learners who were studying under trees due to the shortage of classrooms, forcing them to squeeze into already overcrowded rooms. “This situation highlights the urgent need for government intervention,” Wabwire said.

“It is concerning that since government took over the school in 2011, it has not constructed new classroom blocks or sanitation facilities despite the rapidly growing student population,” he added

Wabwire urged the planning unit at the Ministry of Education and Sports to urgently address the school’s infrastructure gaps, warning that the future of more than 1,000 learners could be at stake if UNEB withdraws the examination centre.

Local education stakeholders are now hoping the government will respond swiftly to safeguard the school’s examination status and improve learning conditions for students in Kaliro District.