Amolatar District Bans Use of Classrooms as Dormitories

12 June 2025, 8:56 am

By Sarah Ejang

Amolatar District has prohibited the conversion of classrooms into dormitories in government-aided primary schools and newly constructed Seed secondary schools.

 District Education Officer Josephine Acen announced the directive during a meeting with head teachers at the District Education Hall, stressing that government funds are allocated strictly for academic infrastructure, not boarding facilities. She said school authorities violating the policy will face legal consequences.

Acen advised schools seeking to introduce boarding sections to use funds from parents or development partners, citing Namusale Seed Secondary School, which built a girls’ dormitory with support from the Japanese government.

She reminded schools that, under the Ministry of Education and Sports’ new policy, any boarding facility must be inspected and approved by the ministry to ensure it meets minimum standards.

In addition, Acen warned head teachers against collecting school fees in contravention of the presidential directive on free education under Universal Primary Education (UPE). She said schools intending to levy any fees must first convene a meeting with parents to reach an agreement—but no child should be sent home for failure to pay.

She also tasked the 22 newly recruited head teachers to improve learning quality in their schools and directed them to reside at their duty stations to better manage school operations.

Senior Inspector of Schools Ogweng Sam Ronald echoed these directives, urging head teachers to lead by example and cautioning against mismanagement of UPE funds.