Kayunga’s St. Mary’s Primary School Survives Amidst Hurdles

Aug 25, 2002

You have to brave the fear of snakes, as you walk through the bush to the school St. Mary’s primary school in Kyazanga village, Kayunga districtSt.Mary’s bush school, is a private school with classes from P.1 to P.6.

By Charity KalebboYou have to brave the fear of snakes, as you walk through the bush to the school St. Mary’s primary school in Kyazanga village, Kayunga districtSt.Mary’s bush school, is a private school with classes from P.1 to P.6. Even the pupils have to endure the bush everyday, so as to acquire modest education. Each class has seven to 10 pupils and has no streams. The building that was turned into a school by Joseph Kibuka of Kyazanga village was supposed to be a grain miller. Since it was turned into a school, four blackboards have been fitted in the four rooms. P.1 to P.3 pupils study only half day, while P.4 to P.6 pupils study the whole day. Upon reaching P.7, pupils are moved to Kayunga primary school to sit for PLE exams, since St. Mary’s is not a registered centre. The pupils pay sh10,000 as school fees per term. By the time the New Vision visited the school there was one teacher managing the three classrooms. Mr. Gerald Kalanzi said there were three more teachers on staff. But they had gone for lunch. Kalanzi disclosed that the school that started in January last year, boasts of a first grade pupil, Jacqueline Namiyano, who scored aggregate 12 in the last PLE examinations. Kalanzi said 10 students sat for PLE last year, while Namiyano obtained a first grade the rest got third grade. “We still have a long way to go, but one by one makes a bundle,” he said. The barefoot pupils of Kyazanga village will have to compete with pupils from first class schools like Greenhill Academy, to get into the same secondary schools.Ends

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