MUBENDE — Rising learner numbers at St Mary’s Primary School in Mubende Municipality have increased pressure on classroom space, even as the school records encouraging attendance and works to expand its infrastructure.
The development was highlighted during a monitoring visit by the Office of the National Chairman (ONC), as the office continues to assess service delivery in Government-aided schools and document challenges affecting learners and teachers.
The monitoring exercise is being conducted by ONC Coordinators on the directive of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni through the Senior Presidential Advisor on Political Affairs and ONC Manager, SPA Hajjat Hadijah Namyalo Uzeiye.
In Mubende District, ONC Coordinator Ms Namuddu Patience visited St Mary’s Primary School, a Government-aided Universal Primary Education (UPE) school in East Division, Kasenyi-Caltex, Katawa Village, Mubende Municipality.
She was received by the school Head Teacher, Mr Ssembatya Emmanuel, who briefed her on learner attendance, staffing, infrastructure and sanitation.
Mr Ssembatya said the school currently has 1,125 learners attending classes, comprising 551 boys and 574 girls.
He said the attendance was encouraging compared with the 1,247 learners enrolled during the previous term, adding that the number of learners reporting to school has continued to increase.
The school has 23 teachers on the Government payroll.
The rising number of learners, however, has placed additional pressure on the available classroom space.
According to the Head Teacher, the existing classroom blocks are generally in good condition.
The school is also constructing a two-classroom block with support from the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) as it responds to the growing learner population.
During the monitoring visit, Ms Namuddu observed the situation in Primary Five, where 259 learners were accommodated in a single classroom.
The large class size leaves limited space for the teacher to move around the classroom and attend to individual learners during lessons.
The situation has increased the need for additional classroom space as the school continues to attract more learners.
The school’s latrines were reported to be in good condition, although the Head Teacher said they are not sufficient for the current learner population.
The reported pupil-to-latrine ratio is approximately 1:40.
The school administration identified additional sanitation facilities as another area requiring attention as enrolment continues to grow.
The monitoring exercise also assessed accommodation for teachers.
The school has staff quarters that accommodate seven teachers, but the Head Teacher said the facilities are old and require renovation.
He said improving the condition of the staff accommodation would provide better living conditions for teachers serving at the school.
Mr Ssembatya appreciated the Government, President Museveni and the Office of the National Chairman for supporting access to education.
He said Government support has created opportunities for children to acquire education and expressed optimism about the future of the learners.
He, however, called for continued attention to the school’s infrastructure needs, particularly additional classroom space, sanitation facilities and renovation of the staff quarters.
The ONC monitoring visit provided an opportunity to document the school’s progress alongside the service-delivery gaps emerging from its growing learner population.
The findings also underscore the need for school infrastructure to keep pace with rising enrolment so that learners can study in an environment with adequate space and facilities, while teachers are supported to effectively deliver lessons.