Over 200 P.7 candidates to be relocated due to floods

KATAKWI-Over 212 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) Candidates in twelve primary schools in Katakwi district are to be relocated to different sitting centres due to flooded roads.

The most affected primary schools in the district are found in the sub-counties of Ongongoja, Palam, Ngariam, and parts of Usuk.

They include Okocho, Obulengorok, Ongongoja, Obwobwo, Omasia, Palam PS, Obule-ajet, Alengo, Ocwiin, Acanga and Apeuru-aodot and Aparisa-Usuk.

Alia Seraphine, the Katakwi Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) said these candidates may not sit in their schools due to the torrential rains which have flooded the roads leading to their schools.

The CAOs office disclosed this on Thursday after the district officials toured the schools and discovered that if they are left, timely delivering of examination papers will be difficult.

 "We are happy that at least Okuda Primary school is willing to host the primary schools of Ongongoja, Obwobwo and Obulengorok. We pray that even other sitting centres should host the affected primary schools," said Seraphine.

Now that the schools are to be transferred, the CAOs office is calling upon the office of the prime minister including the area Members of Parliament (MPs) to support the candidates with food.

According to the CAO, the leaders are still monitoring the situation and if the rains continue, the candidates will be moved three days to the final exams.

James Elangot, the headteacher of Palam Primary School (one of the affected schools) said they have been sitting PLE in Obulajet Primary School sitting Centre but will be forced to move to Ngariam Primary School.

"The road leading to Obulajet Primary school sitting centre is very bushy and flooded this might force us to move for a distance of nine kilometres to reach Ngariam Primary School sitting Center," he said.

Elangot said the candidates should be helped with food because some parents cannot even afford to contribute 24 kilograms of maize flour and 14 kilograms of beans plus cooking oil fees and paying the cook due to poverty.

"Out of 20 candidates that we have only 15 have managed to contribute the food and some fee to enable them to eat at a mini boarding section at school but the rest commute from homes," said the headteacher.

The district inspector of schools, Patrick Ongwali said a total of 2,440 candidates registered to sit for PLE this year in Katakwi with girls slightly more than boys for the first time in the district.

Walter Elakas Okiring the District Chairperson Katakwi said if the affected schools were to do PLE in their 46 former sitting centres, then OPM should provide either a canoe or helicopter for delivering exam papers.  The district has 75 Primary Seven schools.

 Elakas said most roads leading to the affected schools have water stretching for about 500meters. He identified the Sub Counties with the most flooded roads as Magoro, Palam, Ngariam, Okulonyo, and Guyaguya.

According to the timetable, pupils will start their examinations on November 1, with the briefing of candidates across the country.

The pupils will sit for their first paper, Mathematics and social studies & religious education, on November 4.

A total of 695,468 candidates have been registered to sit the PLE. The majority of this lot is UPE-funded: 475,852.