Rising water levels block candidates from re-opened schools

ENVIRONMENT

The rising water levels at Lake Albert have left several candidates stranded after the waters submerged schools.

At least 107 primary seven candidates from Wumoja Primary school in Kanara sub-county and Rwangara Primary school in Rwangara sub-county are stranded after schools got submerged by the rising waters of Lake Albert.

Fred Busingye a resident of Rwangara said on Sunday that the children are not attending classes while others have been relocated to schools in other sub-counties.

"The rising water levels have submerged the schools and some parents cannot afford to transport their children to other schools which have boarding facilities the situation is very bad," Busingye said.

Busingye said that the water problem has persisted since last year and the water has now covered the three sub counties of Kanara, Rwangaramand Butungama.

"The water levels of Lake Albert have been rising since last year as a result of torrential rains being experienced in the Democratic Republic of Congo, cutting off students from their respective areas," Busingye said.

Ben Muthahinga the acting LC5 chairman for Ntoroko district said  when government announced the resumption of schools, they decided to shift some of the candidates to other schools which were not affected but they faced a challenge of accommodation and feeding.

 He said  some of the children from the schools were relocated to Nyakasenyi Primary school which did not meet the 60% requirements set by the ministry of education to reopen but they opted to resume lessons while children reside in the  classrooms.

"The school management decided to get two classrooms which  don't  have windows to accommodate the children because they couldnot go back to their homes. The situation is very bad one classroom is being occupied by over 40 children who sleep in it," Muthahinga said.

Maureen Kusemererwa the district education officer for Kyenjojo said the district had advised the parents and school management to use two of the classrooms as dormitories for the learners to allow them to concentrate on their studies.

"The situation is appalling some of the children study while seated on the ground because there isn't enough furniture the entire school has four classroom blocks two are used as dormitories while the other two are now being used for learning," Kusemererwa said.

FAWE interventions

Susan Opok the executive director for Forum for African Women Educationists-Uganda (FAWE-U) said they were working with the district education department to ensure that they provide basic needs to the learners.

"Over 28 candidates were stranded in their homes because their parents

couldn't afford to take them back to the schools we have worked with the district education department to trace them and they are back in school," Opok said.

She said  FAWE had provided beddings and scholastic materials to the candidates to ensure that they study and complete their primary school cycle.

She said they had embarked on a drive through schools and engagement of community leaders to stop early and forced marriages in the district.

"Through the project, we are supporting girls to ensure that they remain in school the situation is appalling but they have to study because if they remain in homes they face a lot of challenges," Opok said.

Opok said they are working with community leaders and district leaders in sensitising the parents about the dangers of early marriages.