The government has started constructing a sh2.6b Seed School in Katakwi district.

On Friday, Vice-President Jessica Alupo presided over the groundbreaking for the construction of Toroma Seed School, in Toroma sub-county, Katakwi district.

The school is established under the Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer Reform Program (IFTRP), which aims to strengthen the financing, funding and reduce the disparities in funding for service delivery across local governments.

IFTRP was also established to increase capitation grants to schools, among other objectives.

During the groundbreaking ceremony, Alupo said it is government policy to construct a secondary school in each sub-county with Toroma among the beneficiaries.

“Government is constructing schools so that children walk within one sub-county to access education,” Alupo said.

She said the key pillars of education are accessibility, quality and relevance. She emphasised that the pillars should be observed and respected in the government’s quest to promote education.

The Toroma seed school project will include classroom blocks, two unity multi-purpose blocks, IT laboratory, administration blocks, staff house, sanitary houses, multi-purpose hall, external works, a playground, water tanks, among others.

Alupo commended parents for offering land to Toroma Seed Secondary School and assured them the school would change and impact lives of young people through education.

She told the stakeholders to avoid mismanagement of the facility but ensure it is used properly when completed. She cautioned the contractor not to do shoddy work.

The Vice President said seed secondary schools will bring services closer to the people and reduce walking long distances.

She urged students who have been studying from an improvised space at the sub-county headquarters to utilize the facility to it's maximum when completed.

Geoffrey Omolo, the district chairperson commended Alupo for ensuring the school is built.

Santa Ateng, the Senior Education Officer in the Ministry of Education and Sports emphasized that Toroma school is part of the plans to construct 259 seed schools that give opportunities to underserved students.

“It will accommodate both boys and girls for day school, which is a policy for all government aided schools,” she said.

Recently, Cabinet approved $390m (about sh1.4 trillion) for both Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfer (UgIFT 2) and the Uganda Secondary School Education Expansion Project (USEEP).

Of the total approved fund, $240m (about sh889b) will be for UgIFT 2 whereas the $150m (about sh555.7b) will go into USEEP. The fund is a loan from the World Bank.

A total of 258 secondary schools will be constructed under both projects. This will include 142 secondary schools under (UgIFT 2) and 116 others under USEEP.