Kanjuki Secondary School Struggles to Regain Lost Glory Amidst Dormant Infrastructure and Falling Enrollment

Kanjuki Secondary School, a 42-year-old institution founded by the Church of Uganda, is facing an uphill battle to reclaim its former status as a top performer in Kayunga District. In its heyday in the mid-2000s, the school boasted an enrolment of 1,500 students. However, internal conflicts among past administrators are now being cited as the primary cause for its steep decline.

According to the new head teacher, Mr. Andrew Nsereko, the school has been plagued by “intrigue and infighting” involving past head teachers, parents, teachers, and members of the Board of Governors. This turmoil damaged the school’s reputation, causing parents to withdraw their children. Current enrolment hovers around 300 students, a drastic reduction from its peak.

The dwindling student population, coupled with alleged poor financial management, has made it challenging to cover operational costs and maintain the school’s dilapidated infrastructure, including classrooms, dormitories, and latrines. Mr. Nsereko also noted a peculiar challenge where parents offered goods in lieu of school fees and an abused bursary scheme that has since been streamlined.

Security is another pressing concern, as the lack of a perimeter fence has led to reported burglaries. The school administration is seeking government assistance to fund the construction of a perimeter wall.

Despite these challenges, the academic performance remains surprisingly vibrant due to the dedication of the current teaching staff, though their numbers are insufficient.

Despite the current situation, new Board of Governors chairperson Mr. Moses Mukeera believes the school’s decline was preventable. The board is actively engaging stakeholders, including religious leaders, parents, and district education officials, to devise a revival strategy. A key proposal is to have the school incorporated into the government’s Universal Secondary Education (USE) program to attract more students, especially given that many local parents are peasants who cannot afford the current tuition fees.

Local education officials support this proposal, emphasizing the need for stable administration and acknowledging the increased competition from newer schools in the area. Kayunga District records indicate a substantial number of primary and secondary schools, both government and private, in the region.

Source: Daily Monitor