Masaka City – The Minister of Local Government, Hon. Barugahara Balaam Ateenyi, has condemned the poor conditions in the boarding section of Tarbuk Secondary School, after finding that students were being forced to share beds due to a shortage of sleeping facilities.

During a visit to the school, the minister discovered that some students in the boarding section were sleeping two on one bed, while others were sharing a single bed in groups of three. He described the situation as unacceptable and a violation of the standards expected in schools.

Hon. Barugahara warned that if the school management cannot provide enough beds and proper accommodation for boarding students, the boarding section should be closed until the required facilities are put in place.

The minister said overcrowding in dormitories could expose students to health, safety, and moral risks, noting that learners need a safe and conducive environment for both their education and personal development.

The minister also raised concern over reports of teacher absenteeism at the school. He directed the headteacher to prepare a register showing teachers who were present at the school and those who were absent.

Teachers who have been staying away from duty without valid reasons, he said, should be recommended for interdiction, while those who are consistently present and meet the required qualifications should be forwarded to the relevant Service Commission for consideration for placement on the government payroll.

Meanwhile, Hon. Justine Nameere Nsubuga urged students who had spoken out about the challenges at the school not to be intimidated. She encouraged them to continue reporting any threats or harassment and provided them with a contact number they could use in case they faced any form of intimidation.

In a related development, a teacher and the school gatekeeper were arrested on the spot following allegations that they had beaten students. The two were taken into custody as investigations into the alleged assault continued.