In Agago and Pader districts, the state of primary education is on the brink of collapse due to a dire shortage of essential facilities. At Ajali-lajwa Primary School in Ajali Sub-county, Agago District, the struggle to access basic school infrastructure is a daily reality for students and teachers alike.

With 1,221 students forced to share a single three-stance pit latrine, sanitation has become a crisis. This means that each latrine stall is used by approximately 300 students, posing serious health risks and compromising the dignity of young learners. The situation is particularly distressing for girls, many of whom are forced to miss school or drop out entirely due to the lack of private and sanitary facilities.

Inside the classrooms, the conditions are no better. Only the Primary Seven class, consisting of 186 pupils, has access to desks. The rest of the students, spanning lower grades, endure long hours of lessons sitting on the bare floor, a harsh reality that affects their concentration, comfort, and ability to learn effectively.

Teachers Struggle to Keep Students in School

Head teacher Charles Labeja has voiced his deep concern over these dire conditions, emphasizing how they negatively impact both learning outcomes and examination performance. “Many students, especially girls, feel discouraged. The absence of adequate facilities makes it difficult for them to stay in school, leading to increased dropout rates,” he explains.

Labeja’s concerns reflect the broader systemic challenges plaguing primary education in the region. Overcrowded classrooms, lack of learning materials, and inadequate infrastructure continue to widen the educational gap, leaving thousands of children struggling to access quality education.

A Call to Action

The case of Ajali-lajwa Primary School is not isolated—it is emblematic of the widespread crisis in rural education across Uganda. Urgent intervention is needed to improve school infrastructure, increase government funding, and mobilize stakeholders to provide students with a safe and conducive learning environment.

Without immediate action, the dreams of thousands of children in Agago and Pader will remain beyond reach.