TORORO – The parents, staff and students of St. Mary’s Assumpta Seed Secondary School in Mella Sub County Tororo, are in celebration after the Government with support from the Japanese government constructed them a new classroom block.
The classroom block worth $54,700 [UGX. 250 million] which constructed under Japan’s grants assistance for grassroots humanity security projects, will accommodate the students who have been studying in dilapidated buildings and under trees.
This situation according to the school headteacher Ms Betty Emagalet had forced the school to conduct lessons under trees, which was not a reliable option as the weather always changes.
“I wish to inform the gathering that the contribution of the building is timely because more classrooms were needed. We appreciate the donors for this structure. It has changed the view of the school otherwise the situation at school was not good and it had always been our prayer that we benefit from such an opportunity,” she said.
She added “we are proud to be among the few schools in the country to benefit from the grant’’.
The headteacher assured the donors of the commitment to maintain the quality of the projects in achieving the desired results.
She, however, outlined some of their challenges, calling upon development partners to come to their rescue. The challenges, according to Ms Emagalet include the lack of a library block, the absence of information, communication technology [ICT] building and a science laboratory or a multipurpose block.
The Minister of State for Health, Sarah Opendi, also Woman MP for Tororo, hailed the Government for promoting education in the country through facilitating government institutions and encouraging private investment in education.
She noted that the government has done a lot to improve the education sector through the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education [USE] programmes. “The number of learners enrolled under the universal free education has subsequently increased over the years and therein calling for increase for more space,’’ she said.
Ms Opendi thanked the Japanese government for their continued support of the Ugandan infrastructure, health sector, education and agricultural growth saying they are really good partners.
He said the challenge to the school is to put it in good use to boost education in the district while appealing to the teachers to remain committed to their work so as to produce good products saying the government is equally committed to improving their salaries and welfare.
The charge d’Affaires of Japan to Uganda Mr. Mizumoto Horri explained that the objective of the grants assistance for grass root humanity security projects [GGP] is majorly intended at supporting community development projects to uplift lives at the grassroots level.
Mr. Horri said they were compelled to support the school after learning that the student-class ratio of 150:1 was three times higher than the government recommended student class ratio of 54:1which forced many students to study on the floor.
“I’m proud to say that through the GGP scheme, the government of Japan has so far supported 245 projects implemented by the local communities in Uganda since 1992 in the field of education, health, agriculture, water and sanitation, gender and social development sectors to facilitate poverty eradication, development and promote human security’’ Mr. Horri said.
He said in two years, the embassy shall send an inspection mission to evaluate the project while encouraging the students and school management to ensure that the project is utilised for the benefits of its community.
The deputy Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Robert Okwir called upon the board of governors to ensure that the new infrastructure helps to improve the learning environment and boost the academic standards of the school.
