ARUA DISTRICT
Arua District Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Goffin Gore has warned teachers who fail to complete the syllabus that they will face disciplinary action, blaming inadequate syllabus coverage for the district’s poor performance in national examinations.
Gore has directed headteachers across the district to strengthen supervision of classroom instruction, ensure teachers adhere to school timetables and complete the prescribed curriculum for every class within the academic year.
He said some pupils reach Primary Seven without adequate preparation because teachers fail to cover the required content, undermining their chances of performing well in the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
“By the time they reach P7, these children are half-baked, and that’s why they fail UNEB,” Gore said.
He warned that teachers found to have neglected their responsibilities would face disciplinary measures, urging headteachers to take greater responsibility for monitoring teaching and learning in their schools.
The directive comes after Arua District recorded only 13 candidates in Division One in the 2025 PLE, placing it among the lowest-performing districts in the West Nile sub-region.
Gore issued the instructions during the handover of renovated classroom blocks at six primary schools: Endreku, Ave, Aya, Enzeva, Oleni and Ewava. Two other schools, Abiki and Chiaba Cope, received newly constructed classroom blocks.
The projects form part of government efforts to improve learning infrastructure and provide pupils with a more conducive environment for education.
Beatrice Obiru, headteacher of Ave Primary School in Vurra, welcomed the renovation of classroom blocks at her school, saying the improved facilities now accommodate upper primary classes.
She also acknowledged the importance of completing the syllabus in improving learners’ academic performance, noting that effective teaching and adequate classroom space are essential to better learning outcomes.
Arua District Chief Administrative Officer Deo Kabugo said the local government was working to improve education standards through investments in school infrastructure.
Kabugo confirmed that all 12 projects commissioned during the exercise had been implemented according to the approved work plan.
“I am here to confirm that all the twelve projects that we have commissioned were implemented as per the work plan,” he said.
The infrastructure improvements are expected to ease classroom congestion and support teaching and learning across the beneficiary schools.
However, education officials say improved facilities must be accompanied by stronger supervision, teacher accountability and effective syllabus coverage if the district is to improve its performance in national examinations.
With Arua District’s performance in the 2025 PLE raising concern, Gore’s directive places renewed responsibility on school administrators to ensure that learners receive the required instruction and are adequately prepared before sitting their examinations.
By Joseph Omagor and Denis Abiyo | Daily West Nile
