Uganda to Renovate 120 Older Secondary Schools

The Ministry of Education and Sports is set to embark on a significant infrastructure upgrade for 120 traditional secondary schools across Uganda. The move is intended to modernize facilities that have become outdated, making these schools more competitive with recently constructed ‘seed schools’.

State Minister for Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang, confirmed the plan during a parliamentary session. He was responding to concerns raised by Hon. Peter Obong Acuda, who highlighted the deteriorating state of older schools and their struggle to attract students compared to the well-equipped seed schools.

“With the Competency-Based Curriculum requiring fully equipped laboratories and functional libraries, government should first do research before constructing new schools,” Acuda stated, pointing out that institutions like Akokoro SS are disadvantaged due to their old structures, leading to low student enrollment.

Minister Ogwang acknowledged these challenges, revealing that a program is in place to renovate 120 schools. These selected institutions, built between the 1960s and 1980s, will undergo much-needed rehabilitation. Specific schools mentioned for renovation include Comboni College, Lango College, St. Catherine Girls School, Dr. Obote College, Adwari SS, and Aloi SS.

Furthermore, the government plans to collaborate with development partners to extend renovations to more schools beyond the initial 120. In response to a plea from Kalungu West MP, Hon. Gonzaga Ssewungu, to also consider primary schools, especially those under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program, Minister Ogwang noted that resources are channeled through local governments and urged MPs to actively participate in district council decisions regarding school infrastructure.

This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to improving educational infrastructure nationwide, ensuring all students have access to conducive learning environments.

Source: Parliament of Uganda