Overcrowding Crisis Hits St. Mary’s S S Kapisa, New Admissions Banned.
By Ambrose Wanagoli
Butaleja – Several secondary schools in Butaleja District are struggling with overwhelming student populations, forcing administrators to raise alarm over deteriorating learning conditions.
The situation has become so severe that St. Mary’s Secondary School Kapisa has temporarily stopped admitting new students after enrollment numbers surpassed the school’s capacity.
School administrators across the district report acute shortages of classrooms, furniture, and sanitation facilities.
In many schools, learners have been seen sitting on the floor during lessons, while others are forced to study under trees, exposing them to harsh weather conditions.
Secondary school head teachers in the district have blamed the Butaleja District Local Government for focusing more attention and resources on primary schools while neglecting the growing needs of secondary education.
The head teacher of St. Mary’s Secondary School Kapisa, Mr. John Wabwire confirmed that the school has halted new admissions due to the overwhelming number of students. He explained that although the school attempted to create additional streams to accommodate learners, the measure has only offered limited relief.
According to Wabwire, the school currently operates with six classrooms and only four latrine stances.
The institution also lacks a playing field and has a teaching staff of 50, of whom only 17 are on the government payroll.
Wabwire further revealed that he has written to the Ministry of Education six times seeking assistance but has not received a response. He expressed frustration with the district leadership, accusing it of prioritizing primary education while leaving secondary schools to struggle.
Education stakeholders also argue that the government policy of establishing at least one secondary school in every sub-county has not adequately addressed the increasing demand for secondary education.
As a result, many students travel long distances to attend the few available schools, further worsening overcrowding.
Mohammed Tongi Naleba, the Chairperson of the Academic Board at St. Mary’s Secondary School Kapisa, said the school urgently needs at least 100 million shillings to construct an additional classroom block.
However, he noted that parents currently contribute only 60,000 shillings towards school development, which is insufficient to address the infrastructure gap.
During election campaigns, several leaders pledged to lobby for improved education facilities in the district. The administration of St. Mary’s Kapisa says it is still waiting for those promises to materialize as the situation worsens.
When contacted about the concerns raised by teachers, the office of the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) assured the public that it would follow up the matter and engage the relevant authorities to find a solution.
