By Emmanuel Okol
KATAKWI
In order to provide education services closer to the Katakwi population, which was displaced during the Karimojong resurgence, the district’s education department has requested the coding of 22 community schools.
The call was raised during the District’s teachers meeting on 12th October, 2024 that was convened by the Vice President H.E Jessica Alupo Epel and attended by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Education.
Angela Atim Mudong, the District Education Officer (DEO) of Katakwi, argued that the 22 community schools formed by the community were established following the people’s return from camps 4-5 decades ago, resulting in an increase in education services and other social services.
Atim believes that should the ministry of education code the 22 schools, many students will be helped to access education services closer to home, citing the fact that school-aged children in places of return travel 6-8 kilometers to get education.
Atim noted that youngsters under the age of six are vulnerable to insecurity concerns, citing two recent cases in which learners were shot with arrows and bows by suspected Karimojong warriors.
“The community of Okulonyo sub county, Okuliak Parish, which consists of seven villages of Okuliak, Akoboi, Amaratoit, Alukubiong, Obule, Aterai, and Amendera, indicated the need for coding of a local community primary school,” Atim said.
According to prerogatives, children begin their education cycle at the age of eight since schools are far away, exposing them to security hazards.
In response to the concern, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Kadrace Turyagyenda, pledged that the government would look into it since it is a countrywide concern.
However, the PS advised teachers to focus on the development of the learner, emphasizing the importance of the teacher’s role in fostering students’ bodies, minds, souls, character, and personalities.
She stressed the need of adhering to the teacher’s code of conduct and comprehending the teacher’s responsibility to develop children fully.
She recommended students to avoid early marriages, emphasizing the necessity for parents to take on the burden of providing inexpensive educational materials.
“I am going to share with my team from the ministry of education about the coding of schools and recruitment of teachers before the end of this year,” PS said.
However the Vice president of republic of Uganda Rtd Maj Jesica Rose Alupo Epel in her communication, thanked the teachers for being the focus and pillars of education in Uganda at large.
She urges the teachers to continue spearheading their work in order to sharpen the young generation.
In the same function the VP fulfilled the pledge of three printers, one for each county to ease the printing of exams in the district.
