The importance of mentoring needy students

By Billy Rwothungeyo                                

Even though she is not a professional teacher, Shirah Narinda, a first year Bachelor of Commerce student at Makerere University showed up at a teacher mentorship training workshop recently.

Narinda says she is eager to mentor needy students in secondary school.

 “I have benefitted from mentorship. I have better interpersonal skills; I have leadership skills that I did not have. Without the guidance of my teachers, I would not be the person I am today. I want to help younger students as well,”

Narinda then joined dozens of mentor teachers from different parts of the country convened for a three-day refresher training at Nabisunsa Girls’ Secondary School.

The training was organised by BRAC Uganda in partnership with The MasterCard foundation and the Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sports.

The foundation sponsors hundreds of needy students to pursue education at some of the country’s best secondary schools.

Akia Marie, a chemistry teacher at St. Mary’s College Kisubi is one of the teacher mentors under the programme. She explained why it is important for students from needy backgrounds joining such an A-list school need a teacher close to them,

“Most of these children under this programme are from disadvantaged homes and they are coming to socialize with some students who are from better placed homes economically. If they do not have someone to guide them, they may feel out of place,” she explained.

Akia says at such a young age, without mentorship, it is easy for students to lose focus on what should be a priority or not.

“It is easy for some of them to be excited because they are on scholarship. You have to keep reminding them that they should not lose focus and that they should be thankful for the opportunity that makes their future bright.”

Mawa Everest Michael, a teacher of agriculture at St. Joseph’s College Ombaci in Arua, also another mentor teacher under the programme explains why more teachers should take up mentorship roles with students under their tutelage.

“One of our duties as teachers is to make sure that students become responsible citizens. There are many things in society that can affect the concentration of students, so it is our role to bring the children back on track.”

Kule Benson, the acting commissioner for secondary education at the Ministry of Education presided over the opening of the training.

“You are lucky that you have been chosen to have these students in your hands. Let them have direction, these students will be grateful,” he told the participants.

The commissioner advised the teachers to get other teachers on board as regards mentorship.

 “I encourage you to be exemplary to the students. As you play your mentorship role, you must create an impact even among your fellow staff. If you are the only one going to be a mentor, and the other 50 teachers are moving in the opposite direction, the children will wonder what kinds of adults you are,” he said.

“We should encourage them (students) to speak the truth and take responsibility for their choices.”

Grace Namata, the Communication Manager of the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at BRAC explained that teacher mentors are among the key stakeholders of the programme and have been mentoring students who have benefited from the programme for the past two years.

As per the programme components these teachers are designated and trained to undertake this role prior to commencement of duties and annual refresher training is undertaken to ensure programme success.

Namata explained how the mentors are chosen.

“We write to head teachers of the schools we partner with to recommend teachers they think can be good mentors based on criteria. We want teachers involved in co-curricular activities, a teacher who has spent at least five years in a school,” she says.