I am very pleased to see students back in school. I have noted the neat notes that they are checking and Ifeel they are preparing themselves well for their forthcoming exams. The conducive learning environmenthas helped them pick interest in being in school. It is encouraging to see that the enrolment has increasedand that the students are happy to be back and are ready to put a bit of pressure on themselves to catch upfor the two years that they lost.
It is also good to see the teachers, their staff quarters, the blocks that have been built, labs, library and theIT offices. The next important thing is to get the school completed as soon as possible in order for the fullbenefits to be achieved.
I appeal to the Government to make sure that the funds that are required to make sure that the schools arecompleted on a timely basis as well as the funds for the teachers and operations of the schools, areavailed. Also, to ensure that the integration of the rest of the requirements, including connecting to electricity or water supply or digital services in the future, happens.
I like that there is some complementarity betweenthe irrigation scheme and the learning that the school is going to offer.It is encouraging to see that the enrolment has increased and that the students are happy to be back and areready to put a bit of pressure on themselves to catch up for the two years that they lost.
The overall assessment of the performance of the World Bank portfolio is that it is slower than we(including government) would like for various reasons.
Firstly, the way it is structured, we have a lot ofthe design happening as part of the project. Also, we do not necessarily always have the tools, systemsand capacity in place to make sure that things such as social and environmental safeguards, are taken onboard early – that the procurement is done according to the specifications and that the contractors andsuppliers who are supposed to be part of the programme are well prepared and available to provide the services that government seeks.
In view of the extent of needs, falling behind is not a good outcome. So, speeding up the processes is oneof the things we have been talking to government most about, to allow the achievement of the goals to becommensurate to the needs which are growing in Uganda at quite a rapid speed.
