TEACHERS | MAKING | DIFFERENCE

KAMPALA - Stars of the 2019 and 2020 teachers making a difference competition made a cheerful return to the country Saturday night after a 10-day study tour of Ireland.

The KLM Airbus A330 that brought the team from Amsterdam touched down at Entebbe International airport at 10:22pm, after more than eight hours of flight with a brief stopover in Kigali, Rwanda.

In a brief address at the airport, Dr. Jane Egau Okou commended the cheerful teachers for being disciplined during the trip.

"My prayer and indeed the prayer of the ministry is that, pick at least something you have learnt from the trip and implement it in your school," said Egau who is the director higher technical vocational education and training at the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Egau also commended the project partners, especially the Embassy of Ireland for their support of the initiative that recognises and rewards outstanding teachers.

"On behalf of the Ministry and the Government of Uganda, we want to say thank you to the Embassy of Ireland in Uganda for all the support you have given us not only for this trip but for the entire education sector," Egau told Lorraine Gallagher, the Head of Cooperation and deputy head of mission at the Irish Embassy in Kampala who was also part of the team.

Teachers Making A Difference is a New Vision initiative that is implemented in partnership with the Embassy of Ireland and Simba Travelcare, one of Uganda's leading tour and travel management companies. 

As part of the prize, the six most outstanding teachers are sponsored for a weeklong all-expenses-paid professional development programme in Ireland. 

Winners of the 2019 and 2020 competitions took the trip this year as they could not travel as scheduled due to the then COVID-19 travel restrictions. 

The winners who made the trip this year include Sr. Gladyce Kachope of Immaculate Heart Girls'School Rukungiri, Ernest Kavulu of Budo Junior school Wakiso, Sr Prossy Nantege of Kalas Girls primary school Amudat, Tracy Juliet Nansubuga of Gayaza High School, Frank Manyindo Mugene of Ntare School and Raymond Kigongo of Nkooko SS Kakumiro.

Others were Norah Anyait of Chepkararat primary school Amudat, Samuel Abong of Naitakwae primary school Moroto, Rose Moiti of Busesa Mixed primary school Iganga, Buluhani Mulongo of Hama Island primary school Namayingo and Susan Okello of Kotido Mixed primary school. Sr. Teopista Namukasa of Mary Immaculate girls' primary school Kalungu could not travel on the doctor's advice.

ALSO READ: 👇👇👇

1. 📷 PICTORIAL: Star teachers taken through creative teaching methods

2.  📷 Star teachers tour Dublin, depart for Limerick City

3. ▶️ VIDEO: Star teachers' day II in Dublin

4. ▶️ Vision Group's Teachers Making a Difference winners arrive in Ireland

5. ▶️ VIDEO: Teachers making a difference winners head to Ireland after Amsterdam stopover

6. IN PICTURES: Teachers making a difference winners off to Ireland