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In Ayivu Division, Arua City, Ociba Islamic Primary School—one of the area’s long-established government-aided primary schools—is grappling with worsening infrastructure challenges that have raised concern among education stakeholders, parents, and local authorities.
What was once a community-driven institution that began as a Qur’anic school in the 1980s has, over the decades, evolved into a government-aided school offering both secular and Islamic theological education.
It was later taken over by government in 1997 under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme. Yet, despite its long history, its physical structures tell a different story—one of aging buildings and growing safety risks.
School authorities say the condition of the infrastructure has reached alarming levels, with some classroom blocks now posing a real danger to learners. Head teacher Salama Asibazuku says the situation is not only worrying but has already resulted in injuries among pupils.
“This classroom block was condemned for use by city engineers after they assessed the school’s infrastructure because it is now unsafe. I have documented a case where three of our learners were injured when part of the building collapsed,” she said.
One of the main classroom blocks—constructed in the 1980s—was reportedly condemned by Arua City engineering officials after being declared structurally unsafe. Despite this, parts of the building are still in use due to lack of alternative space.
Ociba Islamic Primary School has eight classrooms, but only four are officially approved for use. These are expected to serve more than 1,000 learners, creating severe congestion. Some classes continue to operate in the condemned block, which also houses a library and store. In an attempt to cope, school administrators have converted a former store into a classroom for Primary Seven candidates.
A visit by Uganda Radio Network (URN) revealed the extent of the damage: sections of the condemned block have already collapsed, walls are cracked, plaster is peeling off, floors are damaged, and roofs are rusted and leaking. Doors and windows in most classrooms are broken or missing entirely.
Even the relatively stable lower primary block is deteriorating, with visible damage to classroom floors in all rooms. Parents say they are increasingly worried about the safety of their children. Habib Abubakar, a parent at the school, says the condition of the infrastructure could easily lead to a major tragedy if not urgently addressed.
“The condition of that classroom block is very worrying and could cause a serious accident. I appeal to the government to support the school and improve the situation,” he said.
The school is also struggling with inadequate latrine facilities and a shortage of teachers’ accommodation. Many teachers are forced to commute from distant locations, a situation administrators say affects learning continuity and school operations.
Ayivu Division Education Officer in charge of Special Needs, Agnes Ajio, says the school’s condition has repeatedly been highlighted in official reports, but intervention has been slow.
“I have been indicating in my reports that Ociba Islamic Primary School urgently needs a new classroom block because the current structures are unsafe for learners. But it seems that leaders have now been making follow-up from the relevant offices,” she said.
Arua City Inspector of Schools, Zilly Buza, acknowledges the infrastructure gaps but says authorities are currently overwhelmed following the expansion of schools after the creation of Arua City from Ayivu Division. She says inspections have already been conducted across schools in the city, and the findings have been documented and ranked according to urgency.
“The City Education Officer together with the City Engineer have inspected all schools in the city and found that there are many schools that need assistance.
The conditions have been documented and ranked based on urgency, and Ociba Islamic Primary School is among those that need immediate attention. But we ask stakeholders to be patient as plans are now underway to improve the situation,” she said.
According to records from the Office of the Arua City Inspector of Schools, there are 70 government-aided schools in Ayivu and Arua Central Divisions—54 in Ayivu and 16 in Arua Central. Authorities say limited funding continues to slow down infrastructure improvements across the education sector.
For Ociba Islamic Primary School, however, the urgency is no longer abstract. It is visible in cracked walls, overcrowded classrooms, and the daily risk faced by learners studying in buildings many now consider unsafe.
Source: URN
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