Soroti municipality school pit latrines in appalling state

Aug 31, 2016

Bernard Ogolot, the school head teacher said the two five stance pit-latrines meant for boys and girls are characterized by leaking roofs and that they even have no shooters.

Teachers and pupils in Majengo primary school in Western division Soroti Municipality have decried what they term as appalling state of pit-latrines.

Bernard Ogolot, the school head teacher said the two five stance pit-latrines meant for boys and girls are characterized by leaking roofs and that they even have no shooters.

Ogolot told New vision that the toilets always get full of water whenever it rains.

"Since the roof of the two pit latrines meant for boys and girls was blown off by heavy storm in 2011 the Soroti municipal council leaders have given a blind eye to the plight of the school" Ogolot said.

He claimed that several attempts to get help from municipal council leadership have failed, with parents giving them little attention.

Ogolot explains that they have written and even visited the office of the municipal inspector of schools but no help has come their way.

Tom Emong one of the teachers said the inspector of schools is fully aware of what's happening but he hasn't done anything yet.

It's our humble appeal that something is done urgently for the sake of our children's sanitation," he added.

While  narrating their ordeal New vision Mary Goretty Apiso the School head girl said the issue of them using shutter less pit-latrines is a shameful and that it infringes on the privacy along the learners.

According to Apiso, some learners have resorted to using the nearby bushes to answer to the call of nature for fear of being seen in the open latrines.

She said something needs to be done by both parents and leaders to prevent the possible outbreak of diseases emanating from poor hygiene and sanitation since most learners have abandoned using the deplorable pit-latrines.

In his response Patty Emokor, the Municipal inspector of schools acknowledged receiving complaints over the matter from the school administration, saying that plans to construct the school new pit-latrines are already in pipeline.

"Majengo primary school is among the five schools, municipal council is going to construct new pit-latrines this financial year and what is delaying the plan is decay by government to release the money", Emokor explained.

However, he appealed to the school administration to bear with the situation as plans to give the school a new face lift are in final stages.

 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});