Authorities turn to churches to boost enrollment at Igoti Primary School

21 May 2026, 7:32 pm

By Winnie Auma

Authorities at Igoti Primary School in Apac District have launched a plan to work with churches and local leaders to encourage parents to return their children to school after a sharp drop in enrollment caused by storm damage.

The school headteacher, Oscar Geoffrey Okello said many pupils dropped out during the first term after strong winds blew off the roofs of all classroom blocks at the school.

Okello explained that following the incident, learners were forced to study under trees and in nearby churches, a situation that discouraged many pupils from continuing with classes. He revealed that out of the school’s 897 pupils, only 300 learners representing about 33 percent remained in school by the end of the first term.

According to Okello, government had already started constructing a four-classroom block before the disaster struck, and the facility has now been completed. He expressed hope that the new classrooms will help improve enrollment and provide a better learning environment for pupils.

Okello also said the district education department had assured the school that the damaged classroom roofs would be repaired before the beginning of second term.

He noted that the school administration will now work closely with churches and local leaders to mobilise parents and ensure that more children return to school.

The LC3 Chairperson of Ibuje subcounty, Alex Ogota, confirmed that the newly constructed classroom block will soon be officially handed over to the school to support learning activities.

The four-classroom block was constructed by JABER Co LTD at a cost of 45 million shillings.