Outcry in Teso North as Kasing’e Primary School Faces Classroom Demolitions and Learning Crisis
Public outrage has erupted in Teso North following a visit by Public Health officers to Kasing’e Primary School, where six classrooms were declared unsafe and issued with a demolition notice. The officers warned that the dilapidated structures pose a serious risk to the lives of young learners and cannot continue to be used for learning.
The directive has plunged the school into a deep crisis. Kasing’e Primary already suffers from a severe shortage of classrooms, forcing several grades to share learning spaces despite their poor condition. With the impending demolition of six classrooms, learners from Grades 1 to 7 now face the grim possibility of attending lessons under trees, further undermining their right to a safe and conducive learning environment.
Tensions escalated after the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) manager visited the school and reportedly engaged in a heated confrontation with parents. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from the community, who question why leaders would quarrel with concerned parents instead of urgently addressing the infrastructure crisis by allocating adequate funds. Community members have expressed anger over plans to construct only one classroom, calling it grossly insufficient given that six classrooms are set to be demolished.
In an emergency meeting held by the school committee, members acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and the lack of immediate external support. As a temporary measure, they resolved to create a WhatsApp group to mobilize parents to contribute financially toward the construction of new classrooms. While this move demonstrates community resilience, many view it as an unfair burden on parents who already struggle to support their children’s education.
The situation has sparked widespread condemnation, with residents accusing local leadership of neglecting education and failing the Iteso community. Critics argue that the classroom crisis at Kasing’e Primary School is a symbol of broader systemic failure, where learners’ safety and education are sacrificed due to poor planning and inadequate investment.
As demolition looms, pressure continues to mount on authorities to act swiftly and responsibly to prevent further disruption to learning and to restore dignity to public education in Teso North.
