Muni University has launched a diploma in educational leadership and management (DELM) for primary headteachers and their deputies.

The move is expected to strengthen leadership, management at primary schools.

The DELM is a creatively designed programme to develop school leaders who are highly skilled, driven and responsive to the uncertainties in education in the 21st century.

The launch that took place at Muni University in Arua city on Friday, May 26, 2023, has seen 35 headteachers and deputy headteachers from Arua district, Arua city, Koboko and Yumbe districts given full two-year scholarships under the Aga Khan University Institute of Educational Development at Muni University.

Rev.Fr.Dr. Epiphany Pitcho Odubuker, the vice chancellor in charge of finance and administration at Muni University (Photos by Robert Adiga)

Rev.Fr.Dr. Epiphany Pitcho Odubuker, the vice chancellor in charge of finance and administration at Muni University (Photos by Robert Adiga)

The university is running the programme through the Foundations for Learning project (F4L) under which it signed a private-public partnership (PPP) with the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Educational Development East Africa (AKU- IED, EA).

The diploma programme has been accredited by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) after it was sent for accreditation a year ago by both Muni University and AKU- IED, EA.

The colourful event was attended by officials from both universities, principals of the two core primary teachers colleges and education officers and admitted teachers, among others.

AKU-IED, EA dean Dr Jane Rarieya in her speech read by Associate Prof. Samuel Andema from Aga Khan University, said while many leadership programmes focus on developing leaders’ administrative skills, this particular diploma aims to develop school leaders as leaders of learning.

The staff of Muni and Aga Khan Universities after the launch of the program

The staff of Muni and Aga Khan Universities after the launch of the program

“This diploma, which will be blended in its approach, aims to develop leaders who can support curriculum implementation as well as foster learning by learners, teachers and themselves through being reflective, adopting an inquiry approach to leading and are gender sensitive and inclusive in their practices”, Dr. Rarieya said

The F4L project strives to empower students, teachers, school leaders, families, communities, civil society organisations and government leaders with the necessary knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to foster inclusive and high-quality education that embraces gender equality and pluralism in Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

“Currently, we are actively training a total of 108 headteachers and deputies in these countries, with a focus on developing their leadership abilities to become effective facilitators of learning within their schools,” she added.

Raymond Ombere Obiayi, the principal education officer of Arua city, commended the partnership between the two universities and said it is a turning point for the headteachers and their deputies in the region since most of them have not acquired professional training in leadership and management.

Dr. Mweru Mwingi, the Academic Coordinator Centre For Education And Lifelong Learning (cell) At Aga Khan Institute For Educational Development East Africa

Dr. Mweru Mwingi, the Academic Coordinator Centre For Education And Lifelong Learning (cell) At Aga Khan Institute For Educational Development East Africa

“We are privileged to have the Aga Khan University bring these opportunities to West Nile. It is important that whatever we benefit from this diploma, we put it to the maximum use and service to the people," Ombere said.

Muni University vice-chancellor in charge of finance and Administration the Rev. Fr. Dr. Epiphany Pitcho Odubuker hailed the partnership with Aga Khan University, which, according to him, has vast of experience in the education arena across East Africa.

He said the partnership came as a result of a joint survey conducted by the two universities that revealed an urgent need for retooling the headteachers and their deputies with much-desired leadership and management skills.

“This programme is a well-befitting programme for our headteachers from West Nile region because it has been developed arising from the needs assessment and it is a product of research," Odubuker said.

Dr Mweru Mwingi, the academic co-ordinator Centre for Education and Lifelong Learning at AKU-IED, EA is hopeful that the partners will yield the expected benefits for the two universities.

“We expect that there will be important outcomes coming out from this private-public partnership not only in leadership and management, but also in research and publications will mutually come from the two universities”, Mwingi said.

Headteachers ready for the task

Sally Adania, the headteacher of Niva Primary School in Arua city said the programme for educational leadership and management is expected to help her to transform the lives of the teachers and learners through improved performance.

Hamid Ezangu, the headteacher of Aringi Islamic Primary School, Yumbe district, who said, this is his first opportunity to attain a professional course in leadership management, vowed to urge fellow headteachers to also join the programme.

Programme to strengthen leadership, management at primary schools launched

The diploma programme has been accredited by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) after it was sent for accreditation a year ago by both Muni University and AKU- IED, EA.

Programme to strengthen leadership, management at primary schools launched

Robert Adiga

Journalist @New Vision