LUWERO: The Luwero district has resolved to turn to parents to contribute money to buy desks to cater for the overwhelming number of learners in government schools.
Many schools in the district are having trouble with too many students, which has led to a lack of classrooms and furniture.
The most affected schools include, among others, Luwero Boys Primary, Wobulenzi Public Primary School, Luwero Girls Primary School, Luwero Boys Primary School, and St. Kizito Naluvule Primary School, among others.
Burton Bumba, the headteacher of Luwero Boys Primary School, says that before the COVID-19 lockdown, they had less than 1000 students. Now, there are 1306 students at the school.
He says that as a result, several learners are sitting on the floor while others have six pupils per desk. Bumba says that some parents have decided to offer benches for their children, but many are still unable to do so.
Micheal Kintu, the headteacher of Wobulenzi Public Primary School, says that their enrollment now stands at 2300 pupils, which has created a shortage of desks.
At least half the money meant for building classrooms should be used to buy desks in the next financial year. Councillors from Katikamu Sub County, led by Ronald Kakande, asked the district council to do this.
But Erastus Kibirango, the Luwero LCV Chairman, says that they have rejected the request on the grounds that some schools are equally in dire need of classrooms and toilets.
Kibirango says that they resolved to turn to parents and foundation bodies to fundraise for the purchase of desks and leave the district to address the classroom and toilet shortages.
Denis Sekabira, the Katikamu North Member of Parliament, says that both classrooms and desks are crucial following the surge in the number of learners. When Sekabira goes to Parliament, says that he wants the government to help him get more money for schools, he says that he will.
MP Sekabira is standing in the middle of class at Luwero Boys Primary School where the majority of learners are sitting on mats over a lack of desks. (IMAGE: URN | theKR Media)