Ndeeba Senior Secondary School in Kayunga District is grappling with a serious staff accommodation crisis, as teachers are forced to share beds and sleep in shifts due to insufficient housing. This revelation was made by the school’s headteacher, Mr. Apollo Lyadda, during a ceremony over the weekend to honor last year’s top-performing student.
While presenting a brand-new motorcycle to Abdul Nyongesa, the best student in last year’s Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), Mr. Lyadda disclosed that the lack of adequate housing for teachers is one of the primary factors behind the school’s poor academic performance. He explained that the school, with 38 teachers, has only enough accommodation for 20.
“Because of this shortage, 18 teachers have no choice but to sleep in shifts and share beds, depending on their teaching schedules,” said Mr. Lyadda. “Teachers who have lessons on certain days are the ones who sleep in the available rooms and beds, while others wait for their turn.”
A Shocking Reality for Professional Teachers
The revelation left attendees stunned, including notable guests such as Mr. Amos Lugoloobi, the State Minister for Finance and area MP, Ms. Ida Nantaba, the Kayunga District Woman MP and former student of the school, and Mr. Dan Bubaale, the District Education Officer.
“It’s unhygienic and unbecoming for professional adults to live in such conditions,” Mr. Lyadda lamented. “This situation is affecting the teachers’ morale, and ultimately, the school’s academic standards.”
He further noted that, as a result of the poor learning environment, it had taken the school six years to produce a student capable of scoring the minimum 18 points required to win the motorcycle gift. “Something must be done to ensure our teachers sleep well and live conveniently,” he added, emphasizing the need for immediate intervention.
Promises of Intervention from Government Officials
In response to the headteacher’s plea, Minister Lugoloobi expressed surprise at the dire circumstances and pledged to lobby for funds to build more staff housing. He acknowledged that the shortage of accommodation was a significant issue that required urgent attention.
Ms. Ida Nantaba also shared her personal experience as a former student, recalling how she had been forced to transfer from Ndeeba SSS to Katikamu SDA Secondary School at O level due to the lack of a girls’ dormitory.
“There were many of us girls walking long distances to school, and we constantly faced harassment from men along the way,” Ms. Nantaba said. “That’s why I had to leave. I urge the current students to ‘tighten your skirts’ and remain focused because many men want to disrupt your studies.”
A Call to Address a Widespread Problem
Ndeeba Senior Secondary School, with an enrolment of about 14,000 students, is one of many institutions under Uganda’s Universal Secondary Education (USE) program. The school’s housing issue is emblematic of a broader challenge faced by government-aided schools across the country, where infrastructure, particularly staff accommodation, is woefully inadequate.
The situation at Ndeeba SSS highlights the urgent need for government intervention to not only improve the living conditions of teachers but also uplift the academic standards of the school.
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