Summary:
- Benjamin Abasa, the founder and manager of Bridge of Hope Ministry a non-governmental organization said that their efforts to secure a UNEB center number have been disregarded, even though the school’s mission is to deliver quality education to orphaned and abandoned children.
RUKUNGIRI: Authorities at Bridge of Hope Nursery and Primary School have accused the Education Department of deliberately preventing the school from obtaining a UNEB center number in Rukungiri District.
Benjamin Abasa, the founder and manager of Bridge of Hope Ministry a non-governmental organization that provides free education to needy children in Rukungiri stated that the school has consistently performed well, with its learners frequently achieving first and second-grade results.
Despite this, he said that their efforts to secure a UNEB center number have been disregarded, even though the school’s mission is to deliver quality education to orphaned and abandoned children.
Abasa explained that when they applied for a UNEB center number, they were informed that the school lacked adequate infrastructure, such as large classrooms and a hall for conducting exams. However, he noted that donors from England who had visited government schools with UNEB centers found that Bridge of Hope had better facilities than some of these schools.
Abasa further expressed frustration, saying he now faces challenges explaining to donors why the school still lacks a center number. He emphasized that obtaining the UNEB center number would enable students to take their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) at the school.
CUE IN BENJAMIN…..ON UNEB…..RR/ENG//
In response, Lydia Tushemerirwe, the Principal Inspector of Schools, denied the allegations. She stated that her office had never received an application from Bridge of Hope requesting a UNEB center number. Without such a formal request, she explained, the district is unable to process the application.
Tushemerirwe also clarified that the approval process for UNEB centers is not managed by the district but by UNEB itself, which evaluates applications submitted through the district education office.
CUE IN TUSHEMERIRWE……ON SCHOOL….RR/ENG//
