By Netzenposts.com (Ayub Kirinya)
Bulambuli District authorities have indefinitely closed Masugu Primary School in Buluganya sub-county following the landslides that befell the district last week.
The devastating landslides that killed five people also left Masugu primary School in ruin leading to its indefinite closure.
The catastrophic event caused extensive damage to vital school infrastructure, including staff quarters and a block of classrooms.
Stanley Bayole, the Bulambuli Resident District Commissioner, implored parents to consider taking their children to nearby schools as a temporary alternative.
According to the RDC Bayole, the current state of the School, where classrooms and sanitary facilities were buried beneath the ground poses health risks for the learners, the situation which forced the authorities to temporary close it.
“We cannot, in good conscience permit the pupils to return to such hazardous conditions. Instead, we implore parents to exercise caution and enrol their children in neighbouring schools until the government formulates a comprehensive solution to this pressing challenge,” he said.
Angella Nandudu, the school headteacher, said that learning materials and the funds allocated for school activities were all buried.
Nandudu added that due to the bad and dire situation at the school, the management has decided to close it, the decision which affected the start of the new term which begun on May 29, 2023.
“The school had received funds totalling to sh2m specifically for the Universal Primary Education program, but was also washed away by the debris,” she explained.
She added: “We are left with no resources to kick start this new term and our only hope lies in seeking assistance from the esteemed Office of the Prime Minister.”
The teachers at Masugu Primary School told this publication that while they are eager to resume their noble duty, the ruined school facilities may not allow noting that they are waiting for official communication from the district authorities.
Fred Nambale, a teacher expressed his concerns about the risky conditions surrounding the school.
“As teachers, we fear to conduct classes under such hazardous circumstances. Our location lies directly in the path of potential landslides, making it an exceedingly risky environment for our learners and staff,” Nambale said.
Robert Chemoyi, another committed teacher, urged immediate intervention to ensure uninterrupted access to education for the affected learners.
During the burial ceremony held over the weekend to honour the deceased victims of the devastating landslide, Esther Anyakun, the State Minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness in the Office of the Prime Minister said “Relocating Masugu Primary School is not just an option but an absolute necessity. We cannot afford to gamble with the lives of our children.”
As the rain continues to pour, the school stands as a ticking time bomb, threatening to be swept away.
Irene Muloni, the Bulambuli Woman Member of Parliament, said the calamity has caused a negative impact on the educational prospects of the region whereby some learners are now hesitating to return to school due to the recent traumatic incident.
Muloni emphasized the need for immediate measures to support the affected learners.
“While we eagerly await the implementation of the relocation process, we earnestly appeal to parents to consider enrolling their children in nearby schools to ensure their continued education,” she emphasized.