By ALEX PITHUA
The remote farming community of Agoru village, Angol parish, Atyak sub-county, Zombo district has appealed for support from development partners and will-wishers for establishing a classroom for “Agober parents’ primary” school.
The area has recently become attractive to commercial farming due to its fertile soil, prompting a desire for education among their children.
The area in the past have been abandoned after it was infested by River blindness/Onchocerciasis, therefore; population growth, and better health system fueled exodus of farmers from all over parts of Zombo, Nebbi, and Arua districts to settle in Atyak sub-county.
The school was established three years ago; last year had over 300 enrolments of learners in P/1.P/2 and P/3 and the local leaders revealed that they are registering P/4 this year (2025).
“We raised our concern to MP Songo, because we have 500 households here and we need our children to study. We have started this school and brought qualified teachers who have not been absorbed by the government to teach here and there seven including the headteacher.” Urwiny said in a sideline interview with our reporter.
For their parts parents have erected four grass thatch houses where they are conducting lessons while other learners are taught under shade of trees in the area.
Among urgent priorities the school management committee are requesting are textbooks, chalks, iron sheets, blackboards while they mobilize local resources and paying volunteering teachers.
Fred Urwiny, one of the executive board members, revealed that parents are laying bricks at the school and permanent structures are established for the learners.
The general secretary for Pakich Chiefdom, Thomas Susu implored that they have allocated 7 acres of land in the future development of primary school infrastructures and playgrounds.
“This fourth year of the existence of this school, we have given the land to the community in the presence of an area councilor. We ask the government, area MP Songa and his friends to bring us development.” Susu explained
He called upon the district leaders and Ora county MP to prioritize the school to be taken by the government.
Meanwhile, MP Lawrence Biyika Songa, commended the bold idea of the community members for establishing the school adding as leaders they will forward the school name through district to the Ministry of Education and Sports for coding.
The MP who was visiting the area supported the school administration with shs200000 as good gestures for the community with promise for further lobbying for construction of classrooms.
Songa observed that Zombo district they have been supporting community schools like, Amurupii Community P/S Atyak( sub-county), Jupamathu Parents P/S (Akaa sub-county) and Aparasa P/S in Nyawir Atyak (sub-county) saying already their names has submitted to Ministry of Education and Sports awaiting coding.
“What we can afford to do, let’s do them for the development of this school. When we develop this school one of the children here can become an MP like me in future.” Songa motivated the community members
Another farming community of yil village in Anyola Parish, Atyak sub-county have also called for support to construct classrooms for King Phillip Olarker Rauni III community primary school.
This community started last year and recorded over 400 learners from P/1 to P/5. Atyak sub-county is located at the border of Arua and Madi-Okollo district. These remote areas lack primary school hence the community taking matters into their own hands.
According to the Uganda National Schools Electronic Registry, there are 111 primary schools in Zombo District.
With enormous efforts by the government and Cooperaid, a Switzerland NGO towards development of schools’ infrastructures in Zombo district, there are still areas without schools, especially hardly inaccessible parts.
