First Lady unveils 10 new primary schools in Sebei region

May 31, 2018

The 10 schools in Sebei sub-region are part of other 138 schools, constructed by the Government in 31 districts round the country.

 
EDUCATION
 
KAPCHORWA - Huge clouds, swollen with rain, rose in rapid successions and all of a sudden continuously started raining in the hills of Kapchorwa, on Monday.
 
This was the day the First Lady and Education Minister, Mrs. Janet Kataaha Museveni was destined to commission a newly built primary school.
 
Nevertheless, the heavy rains and slippery hilly roads did not deter Mrs. Museveni from commissioning the newly constructed buildings at Chebalat Primary school.
 
This is one of 10 primary schools constructed in Sebei region under the Global Partnership in Education (GPE I) grant.
 
The 10 schools in Sebei sub-region are part of other 138 schools, constructed by the Government in 31 districts round the country.
 
Of these, 54 have already been completed, and Mrs. Museveni has, for the whole of this month been leading the launches in the various parts of the country.
 
Unlike all others schools constructed in other regions, the First Lady explained that, "Most of the schools constructed in Sebei region, were availed teachers' houses, on top of the classroom, water tanks, administration blocks and latrines."  
 
"We ensured that all the schools in Bukwo get staff houses because of the challenges of accessibility of these schools," she explained. "We are grateful to God that despite the terrain challenges and accessibility, we are here today to witness the handover of this school," she noted.
 
The First Lady explained that all the 54 schools have quality classroom blocks built to high standards; school administration blocks, water and sanitation facilities.
 
"Furniture is also part of the package," Mrs. Museveni explained. "Within the next few months, all these classrooms will be furnished with good quality and modern furniture which will make the teaching and the learning environment more conducive for our children in the 54 schools."
 
The First Lady, was flanked by the British High Commissioner to Uganda, Peter West, who doubles as the Chairperson of the Education Development Partners.
 
Others were the UNICEF Resident representative Doreen Mulenga, the State Minister for primary education, Rosemary Seninde, the district Woman Member of Parliament Rukiya Chekamondo and several other district officials.
 
Meanwhile, the First Lady noted that putting up buildings is not enough to improve the quality of education in the country.
 
Various studies done by Government and Uwezo (a regional Non-Government Organisation doing research in education) show that the country's education is wanting.
 
The First Lady noted that some parents are not paying adequate attention to the education of their children, and that this must change.
 
 "We need to work together: educationists, parents, communities and children. Now, as many of you know, I'm on a nationwide School Feeding Sensitization Campaign."
 
"We all know that proper feeding of a child ensures a bright future for that child. We also know that it is a parent's responsibility to feed his or her child," she explained.
 
"We should, therefore, no longer be fighting over who is responsible for the feeding of the children. Please accept and take on your responsibility; Feed our children."
 
Seninde, had earlier on, in her speech noted that children in this school were not being given lunch at school by their parents; which is against the education ministry guidelines.
 
The local leaders, in their speeches had also notified the First Lady that the local residents had an idea of starting a secondary school, to be named, ‘Mama Janet Museveni Senior Secondary School'. But the twist to this commemorative school, was that they wanted the First Lady in her capacity as education minister, to build it.
 
In her response, she said that she will have the ministry construct the school, but on one condition: ‘She must be well-assured by the district leaders' reports that the parents are feeding their children at school.'
 
More so, she explained that the National High-Altitude Training Centre at Teryet, Kapchorwa; will be completed soon. The rains and slippery hilly roads, hindered her team's access to the centre's construction site.
 
She noted, "I have been made to understand that the construction of the Centre like that of the GPE project, has been dogged by many challenges including the terrain and the road network."
 
But she assured the country, that it's construction will be completed soon."I had planned to go there and monitor the progress of that work, but it has not been possible.
 
"Please be assured that we are doing everything possible to expedite the completion of works for this Centre," the education minister added.
 
 
 

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