Established in 1938, St Aloysius College Nyapea, in Nyapea Sub-county Zombo District in the West Nile Sub-region has been known for its dominance in academics and co-curriculum activities. #WhisperEyeNews
Many who grew up in an era where secondary schools in Greater Nebbi were counted by the stroke of a pen would attest that St Aloysius College Nyapea in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s Was known as “the elephant of the region”. A student who then never studied at St Aloysius College Nyapea was not considered by locals as a secondary student. Locals used to refer to the school as the “senior school”. Studying at St Aloysius College was a great prestige.
Students would come to access education at the college from as far as northern Uganda, central and even western Uganda.
But the old glory of the school started waning slowly coupled with a series of deadly strikes and a “Deap_seated administrative gap” at the once reputable academic entity.
However, Through interventions of the old boys association, concerned stakeholders, and political, cultural and Religious leaders, hope is gradually returning at the school.
Last year, the Government of Uganda Through The Ministry of Education and Sports under Uganda’s secondary school expansion Programme constructed a magnificent 2 blocks of 5 classrooms at the college which was commissioned on October 24 at a cost of Ugx 308 million. The construction was undertaken by Rhema Construction Limited and included the supply of 18 desks, A teacher’s table and chairs in each of the classrooms.
Engineer Paul Mubiru of the construction management unit at the Ministry of Education and Sports said There is a prospective Ugx 7 billion shillings the government plans to allocate to revamp the college. If all goes as planned, The funds that are to come from the World Bank will make sweeping changes at the college.
” This project has cost the government 308 million shillings, The two blocks have 5 classrooms and each classroom has 18 desks, A teacher’s table, and chairs. There is also a plan by the government to in future allocate 7 billion to help in the renovation of the college but we are still awaiting negotiation between the World Bank and the government ” Mubiru said during the commissioning of the new blocks.
A section of some buildings at St Aloysius College Nyapea recently underwent a massive renovation through support from The Old Boys Association which feels very concerned about the development of the college.
The president of the Old Boys Association of the college Dr. Amos Nyathirombu commended the government for the great stride before noting that the Old Boys Association recently facelifted 4 out 7 dormitories at the school as one of their initiatives aimed at beautifying the college. He also appealed to the Ministry of Education and Sports to help in the extensive renovation and construction of the much-needed accommodative housing at the staff quarter.
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Nyathirombu who is also concerned about a few teaching staff at the school given the increasing enrollment called upon the Ministry of Education to address the challenge before giving assurance of making keen follow-ups of all projects meant for the college.
“As Old Boys of the school, we managed to facelift 4 of the 7 dormitories, we request the Ministry of Education to also do something ” Nyathirombu said
The chairperson board of governors at Aloysius College Nyapea Anthony Okwir equally stressed the need for serious renovation of the school before advocating for the need for a high-end human resource to effectively steady the ship of the college.
” Human resources is very vital, am crying for quality human resources, more so in the field of graduate science teachers” He Pleaded.
The headteacher of St Aloysius Nyapea College Nyapea Brother Paul Nantinda, commended the government for adding the new blocks will serve its intended purpose.
“Am very grateful that we have come to commission one of the products of our appeals, we shall ensure that the building stays to serve its Main purpose here” Okwir noted
St Aloysius College Nyapea which has been in existence for more than eight decades has produced countless responsible persons taking up positions in different offices.
One of the civil servants in Zombo who moved With a reporter of this Publication across the school compound said a lot still needs to be done to help the school get back to its former glorious days.
” This college is our pride, I today because of this college, but some years back when we heard how some administrators were spoiling things here, we were so disappointed, good things are changing slowly, but it will take time for us,” He said
In the past years, the government is said to have allocated nearly 1 million dollars for the renovation of the school but a report had it that the money was “swindled ” and never served it’s intended purpose and sources say there was no clear accountability.
The LC 5 chairperson of Zombo district James Oruna Oyullu has commended the concerted effort of everyone in ensuring that the school benefits from the government programme. He assured everyone that as the District, They will ensure that the school benefits from all that belongs to it.
The Resident District Commissioner of Zombo Rtd Lt Col Pius Alitema has cautioned students at the college against atrocious acts that involve destruction amongst others at the school.
St Aloysius College Nyapea which is one of the historical schools in the west Nile subregion has been grappling with the challenge of low enrollment for years the enrollment has shot to over 400 up from only 97 students in 2017 and a lot is being done by the administration, old boys association, stakeholders and political leaders to ensure that the school that was once an academic giant regain its former glory.
