The state minister for labour, Gender and social development in charge of Children and Youths affairs Hon Sarah Nyirabashitsi Mateeke has faulted the Kisoro district education department for understaffing in primary schools in Bukimbiri Constituency.
Hon Nyirabashitsi who reached at Nyarusunzu primary school in Nyarusunzu village,Nteko ward in Nkurungo town council on Friday 16th while giving out scholastic materials to P.7 candidates, was shocked after finding that the school has three teachers only handling 331 pupils at the school.
The headteacher of Sanuriro primary school Mbonigaba Elijah said that they have five teachers handling 276 peoples.
Kamari James the headteacher of Nteko primary school said that the school being in remote area, pupils are fond of absenting themselves.He said that the school has 412 pupils being handled by eight teachers.
At Nombe primary school the headteacher Mr Kanani Fred said that the school has an enrolment of 637 pupils and 11 teachers.
According to Sarah, she had reported the same issue to the office of DEO and CAO last year but nothing has been done which she says it needs to be addressed.
She said that the service commission should always consider recruiting teachers from the area to have pupils taught like others in good staffed schools.
Hon Sarah said lack of teachers may be the factor behind high school dropout.
Pupils at Nyarusunzu primary school said that they spend most of time playing from outside because there are no teachers to teach. Our reporter found out that the P.7 candidates struggle to make even a short sentence in English which symbolizes that teaching at the school is myth.
The head teachers of Nteko primary school,Sanuriro, Nombe and Ntungamo primary schools respectively also said that understaffing is the most challenging issue compared to the high number of pupils.
Meanwhile head teachers, teachers and P.7 candidates thanked Hon Minister for giving them scholastic materials ahead of PLE exams that will be done in November.
On Thursday 15th this month, the Kisoro district chief administrative officer told voice of Muhabura that he will talk about the issue after understanding the situation or after being briefed by DEO, because he is still new in Kisoro. He said this after the DEO declined to comment.
