The shortage of classrooms at one school in Uganda's eastern city of Soroti has forced teachers to conduct lessons under trees, highlighting the urgent need for facilities at the struggling school.

It is the youngest joiners of Owolo-Katine Primary School — 120 pupils in baby and middle class — who have to endure this uncomfortable space.

Nonetheless, it is still a tight squeeze for the older pupils in the higher classes taught in the few available classrooms.

For instance, the 125 learners of Primary Six have to cram in a single room, a space that should ideally accommodate no more than 50 learners.

"We have no choice but to teach them in packed classrooms," says head teacher Florence Amenyo.

The government desires that every child goes to school, but challenges of facilities like at this school of 1,170 learners continue to hamper the policy.

For now, the government policy requiring 45 learners per class remains, for now, beyond the reach of Owolo-Katine Primary School, where some pupils have to study in a nearby church.

The school has only six classrooms, which complicates the accommodation of a nursery section as per the new government policy.

“We have no class to accommodate them, so we teach them under the two trees we have at the school," said Amenyo.

On top of that, there are no desks for them to study on, leaving the young learners with no option but to sit on the ground and attempt to keep up with the teacher.

"When it rains, we take them to mix in other classrooms, which is challenging," added the head teacher.