When a strong wind blew off the roof of a classroom block in Atuitui PS located in Ongino sub-county, Kumi district in March, the head teacher was left desperate.
Venance Akodu told The Observer in a May 9 report that he needed Shs 13m to buy iron sheets, timber, cement, pay labour, among others, to reconstruct the classroom. Then, Akodu lost hope of ever receiving assistance for the affected classrooms, meant for 96 P7 and 50 P6 learners.
In a school management meeting, parents agreed to contribute Shs 5,000 for each of the 788 children in the school. However, the school could only raise Shs 1.6m.
Then the sun appeared on the horizon. Akodu called The Observer last week to inform us that the office of the prime minister had delivered 186 iron sheets to aid reconstruction.
“Although I have not yet received all the money that we budgeted for, I’m happy that we managed to get this contribution,” Akodu said. “We had written letters to various government offices and this one at least came through.”
Through the minister of state for Teso Affairs, Christine Amongin Aporu, the school had initially written to the minister for Disaster Preparedness to lobby for assistance. Akodu said the 16-member taskforce set up to move around the village with a list of parents’ names and their children managed raise their collection to at least Shs 2m, up from Shs 1.6m in May.
“When we open the school on Monday [today], we expect to have another meeting to discuss how we can utilise the money and iron sheets we have received as we wait for more funds,” he said.
He added that they need at least 1,500 bricks, nails and skilled labour to start the reconstruction. Akodu urged Atuitui PS old students and well-wishers who can deliver materials in kind to do so. John Michael Otai, the acting Kumi district education officer, said they have also written to two NGOs that are operating in Kumi to provide more support as they moblise locals to assist the school.
“If there is any more support from government in any form, we shall be very grateful,” Otai said.
As schools open for second term today, P6 and P7 children will continue studying in the dilapidated 1965 building where they were relocated.
nangonzi@observer.ug