By Daniel Edyegu

A total of 814 children displaced by landslides in Namashate parish and the neighbouring Bumayoka sub-county in Bududa district have registered for nursery and primary school education in Bulucheke camp.

Ezra Nabute, the head teacher of Nametsi Primary School, explained that the children were mainly former pupils of Tunuwasi, Nametsi and Kitsatsa primary schools that were closed following the tragic landslides that killed over 350 people.

“Initially, the education department had closed these schools for two weeks with the hope that the situation will normalise. Now that the whole of Mt. Elgon has been declared prone to more landslides, we can’t keep the children just seated inside the camp,” Nabute said.

He added that the pupils in the lower classes will study at Hope Education Centre within the camp, while those in primary five to seven will go to Bumwale Primary School, located about 1,000 metres from the camp.

Nabute will head the centre at the camp. The classroom blocks at the centre are semi-permanent structures made of mud and wattle walls. By Monday afternoon, casual labourers had started nailing tarpaulins to create the roofs.

Nabute said 17 teachers, most of whom were from the closed schools, had registered to serve at the two centres.

He added that the decision to have the education centres was taken to avoid leaving the teachers redundant, adding that the teachers would be trained to deal with the traumatised children before they commence duty.

“Whereas these teachers are used to carrying on normal classes, most of the pupils they are going to handle lost their parents, classmates and close relatives.

“The children need special attention to avoid causing them more psychological torture. Later, we may prefer to bring all these children to the centre for close supervision,” Nabute said.

He added that a 12-member school management committee had already been formed and explained that the teachers were waiting for scholastic materials and completion of the structures at the centre to start teaching.

However, Nabute noted that most of the pupils whose parents stayed in Bukalasi and Bumayoka sub-counties would be prompted to trek long distances to attend classes in the camp.

Justine Abenaitwe, the Save the Children child protection officer, said her organisation would provide the pupils with scholastic materials.

Shiru Bogere, the Bumayoka community development officer, said authorities within the camp were still screening children to ascertain their vulnerability.

“When relief came, people exploited the situation and sent children to get the items. We are using LC1 chairpersons, guardians and close relatives to identify the genuine vulnerable children,” Bogere said.