Special education schools in Fort Portal are running out of money

School authorities in Fort Portal City who run special needs units express concerns about insufficient teaching staff, declining funding and delayed financial support, all of which they say are seriously hampering their activities.

Since the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1997, Canon Apollo Demonstration School and St Peter and Paul Primary School were designated as special education centers in Fort Portal City, Kabarole District.

The Principal of Canon Apollo Demonstration School, Mr George Kituku, said the school has 73 students with special needs, including deaf and mentally challenged children from Kabarole and neighboring districts in Tooro and Rwenzori sub-counties.

He said the school currently only has two teachers for students with special needs, although the required ratio is one teacher for every three students. He added that three former special education teachers were transferred without replacements, leaving the school overwhelmed.

“We are seriously understaffed, with only two teachers for all these students. Due to integration policies, students with special needs are often mixed with others for certain lessons, and general teachers are not trained to meet their needs. Some students even need sign language interpreters to understand what they are being taught,” Kituku explains.

He added: “If you transfer a special education teacher from a school with students with special needs, it is essential to replace him.”

Turning to finances, Mr Kituku said although the UPE third term capitation grant of Shs2,037,633 was received on September 23, the council is yet to disburse the special needs grant.

“I have written to the municipal education officer, but have not yet received a response. The Special Needs Fund is crucial to provide essentials such as food, porridge and learning materials for these students. Without money it becomes difficult to operate. We are already halfway through the term and are struggling to meet these needs,” he said.

Of the 73 students with special needs, 25 live at the school through parental contributions, while the rest commute. This year, three students have registered for the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

Mr Godfrey Tideybwa, a special education teacher at Canon Apollo Demonstration School since 1999, expressed the difficulties of teaching with only two staff members.

“With only two teachers, it is a challenge to give these students the attention they need. In a normal week we can only meet them three times; on other days they are placed in regular classes, and not only can each teacher always deal with what these students need,” he explained.

Mr Tideybwa noted that some teachers are reluctant to transfer to the school because special education teaching is considered extra work without extra pay.

He emphasized the need for salary increases to attract and retain special education teachers. He said state wages currently do not reflect the unique demands of special education, making it difficult to recruit qualified staff.

In terms of capitation grants, the school received Shs1,977,574 in the first semester and Shs2,017,327 in the second semester for special needs, but no funds have yet been provided for the third semester.

At St. Peter and Paul Primary School, two teachers deal with 35 students with special needs who are taught in one classroom, despite the different grade levels.

Mrs. Juliet Tibasanga, a special education teacher at the school, explained that in 1997, classes were held in separate rooms but now all students are in one classroom due to financial constraints.

Ms Tibasanga reported that one deaf student is registered for PLE, which ends today, and will sit alone with an invigilator.

The management said the school receives about Shs1.8 million per semester for the needs of these students but is aiming for an increase of Shs3 million per semester for smooth operation.

Fort Portal City Education Officer, Mr Richard Alituha, said they had received the money for special education schools but had been instructed to spend money on UPE schools first. ”We received money, but we were not allowed to send money to schools. We first focused on the UPE capitation grant, which we sent. We now have to find out why we were not allowed to send that money.’