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 TEACHERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE 

Live reporting & editing by Joseph Kizza
Pictures taken by Mpalanyi Ssentongo & Maria Wamala
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 4:40 PM     |     It's a wrap!

Oh, and on behalf of Vision Group, CEO Don Wanyama presents a book gift to the First Lady as a token of appreciation for presiding over the awards ceremony as chief guest.

To conclude the event, the anthems are sung, in reverse order — Irish, East African and finally Ugandan — followed by parting shots, goodbyes and departures.

Congratulations to all the winners!

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 4:34 PM     |     Education minister launches Teen Vision

 BREAKING NEWS 

After congratulating all the winners, the chief guest, First Lady Janet Museveni, then launches Vision Group's new product: Teen Vision.

"This product is created to offer a platform for the youth to appreciate their identity and purpose in life so they can live to their full potential," she says moments before launching the product.

"I hope that it will equip the youth with information to surmount the challenging issues in our society.

"I also pray that in a specific way, it will teach our children the fear of God and how to live a life that truly gives God the glory He deserves.

"I, therefore, charge Vision Group, [with creating] a safe environment for young people to interact with each other with appropriate content and guidance from adults and experts."

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 4:33 PM     |     First Lady wants all 12 winners to fly to Ireland

"I congratulate the 12 winners of this year's Teachers Making a Difference competition, having been selected from among the 425 teachers nominated for the competition," says the First Lady Museveni.

"I also implore the six teachers who have earned a trip to Ireland to serve as our ambassadors by demonstrating exemplary behaviour.

"But I would also like to go further and say that I would like to try and raise a fund that would enable the other six so that all the 12 can go to Ireland," she adds, drawing huge applause and ululations.

"If it's okay with the ambassador, I would like all the 12 to go to Ireland this time around."

And then the First Lady turns to the winning teachers.

"Please seize this opportunity, our teachers, to learn about the most cutting-edge teaching techniques in a contemporary setting, identify what can be replicated and then come back and practise what you have learnt.

"Endeavour to create long-lasting networks so that your interactions with your Irish colleagues continue after the trip so that you can always work together online."

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 4:31 PM     |     'This project motivates teachers'

The First Lady commends Vision Group for the Teachers Making a Difference initiative, "which honours exceptional teachers who go beyond the call of dutyto ensure learning takes place".

"This project," she adds, "motivates the teachers to continue their great work while also inspiring others to join the teaching profession."

The minister adds: "By publishing the works of these teachers, this initiative also gives educators a platform to exchange innovative teaching techniques and strategies with one another, thus fostering a culture that promotes collaboration and ongoing learning."

She says this initiative helps to "change the public's negative perception of the teaching profession by showcasing these teachers' accomplishments and emphasizing how important it is to recognize and honour their dedication and hard work.

"I would like now, in a special way, to thank the Irish embassy and Travelcare, a company owned by Irish businessman Declan Peppard, for their support to the Teachers Making a Difference initiative.

"But I want to say that the Irish embassy have always taken an extra mile to help especially in areas of difficult circumstances, such as Karamoja," says Mrs Museveni.
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 4:26 PM   

"We live in times where people who lack values are looked up to for some reason and are celebrated for the wealth they amass through corruption and other vices," says the education minister.

"This negative role modelling has resulted in a generation without morals and the values that Ugandans once espoused from a religious and cultural persepective. It is, therefore, critical, that education institutions at all levels place equal emphasis on subject instruction as they do on the development of a spirit of patriotism and the instilling of values.

"The NRM government has always placed emphasis on the need for every child to access education. And this is why Government introduced the universal primary education and universal secondary education to give an opportunity to all children, both boys and girls, especially those from underprivileged families, to access this life-changing prospect, which opens young minds to the possibilities around them," says Mrs Museveni.
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 4:24 PM     |     'Teaching closely works with God'

"I am always so grateful to God, for He never fails to find people He will use to remind us all that there are those who still care to serve Him selflessly with Godfearing hearts and will do anything to please Him, consequently bringing pride to many of us who take note and make a way to associate with such people in God's name," the chief guest, First Lady and education minister Janet Museveni, starts off.

She says the teaching profession is "blessed to closely work with God in shaping and nurturing young minds by imparting knowledge which allows future generations to develop, not only individuals, but also as contributors to the nation's growth."

"When we work to mould human beings, we are working with God," she says.

"With God's wisdom, educators have the power to instill values and morals in learners, such as discipline, hard work, and respect for others.

"This is significant because, as we all know, education can and should be a cornerstone of every prosperous and forward-thinking society. Therefore, the growth and economic advancement of a nation is hampered in the absence of Godfearing , selfless, committed and passionate educators.

"I urge stakeholders now in the education sector and more especially teachers to take the role of providing education and the nurturing of a generation of responsible young leaders very seriously, understanding that it must begin with the teacher's heart, knowledge and fear of God, where all wisdom originate."

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 4:16 PM    

The education ministry's permanent secretary, Ketty Lamaro, hails the partnership of Vision Group, Embassy of Ireland, Travel Care and the education ministry for making the Teachers Making a Difference project a reality and success.

She goes on to encourage other similar partnerships.

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 4:13 PM     |     The top 6 winners...

The following top six teachers (as numbered below) win an all expenses-paid trip to Ireland:

1. Edward Bukye, the overall winner, is a teacher of Nakalama Primary School in Iganga district in Busoga sub-region. He receives a plaque and certificate presented to him by the chief guest, Janet Museveni.

2. Anthony Lochugai, the headmaster of Ding Dinga Primary School in Amudat district in Karamoja sub-region.

3. Grace Olive Musingo Nabuduwa, the headmistress of Ngora Girls Secondary School in Ngora district in Teso sub-region.

4. Lilly Lakot, the headmistress of Paiula Primary School in Pader district in Acholi sub-region.

5. Harriet Arakit, a teacher of Nakapiripirit Seed Secondary School in Nakapiripirit district in Karamoja sub-region.

6. Abdul Barabwiriza, a teacher of Tororo Girls Secondary School in Tororo district, Elgon sub-region.

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 4:00 PM     |     Here are the winners...

All the 12 winners of the Teachers Making a Difference Awards 2023 win a cash prize of sh2 million for themselves as well as sh2.5 million worth of equipment for their respective schools.

The bottom six are:

7. Mathias Kidon, the headmaster of Kalatom Primary School in Napak district in Karamoja sub-region

8. Festo Gutaka, a teacher of Kibembe Primary School in Sironko district in Bugisu Sub-region.

9. Francis Nsubuga Ssematimba, the headmaster of St. Maria Gorette Mpugwe Primary School in Masaka city.

10. Biira Nabukwasi, the headmistress of Mayor Primary School in Mbale district in Bugisu sub-region.

11. Rogers Kirya, a teacher of Kisaasi Primary School in Kampala city.

12. Joel Mukose, the headmaster of Namagonjo Primary School in Bugiri district in Busoga sub-region. He gets a cash prize of sh2 million for himself and sh2.5 million for his school.

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 3:42 PM     |     Most progressive TMD alumni

This year, the top three most progressive past winners of the Teachers Making a Difference project are being recognized. They were selected from 22 alumni.

They are:

Number one is Santina Auma, the headmistress of Rengen Primary School in Kotido district in Karamoja sub-region. She gets a cash prize of sh1.5 million and sh2.5 million worth of equipment, which she will invest in a desktop and printer.

Number two is Catherine Nabwire, the headmistress of Busia Intergrated Primary School in Busia district. She gets a cash prize of sh1.2 million and sh2.5 million worth of equipment, which she has decided to invest in a photocopier.

Number three is Sr Gladyce Kachope, the headmistress of Immaculate Heart Secondary School in Rukungiri district in Kigezi sub-region. She was awarded in 2019 and today, she is being represented at the ceremony.

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 3:29 PM    |     'TMD project rightly positioned'

"This is my favorite event of the year. It is an honour to be here today," says Ambassador Kevin Colgan.

"As we gather to celebrate and recognize and award teachers for the immense contribution that they make in our society, today's awards ceremony provides another opportunity to reflect on this year's World Teachers Day theme, which is 'The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage'.

"We all know teachers who have made a difference in our lives. We can all look back to our youth when we were going to school, and their words of encouragement. There are teachers went that extra mile and made the difference.

"The Teachers Making a Difference programme is rightly positioned to push forward this theme and it aims to recognize and award individual teachers who have gone beyond the call of duty for their learners, for their schools, the communities to deliver quality equitable education..

The Irish Ambassador continues:

"On behalf of the Government of Ireland, I would like to acknowledge and appreciate the Government of Uganda and the Ministry of Education and Sports  in particular led by you, First Lady. You have dedicated leadership together with your team in steering the education sector in promoting professionalism among Ugandan teachers, which is pointed to the greater achievements in the quality education and learning outcomes of this country.

"Ireland as a country itself knows the value of investing in education to transform its society. Today, Ireland has invested approximately a quarter of our budget that we spend here in Uganda in education.

"We are particularly proud of our teachers for their dedication and commitment to the delivery of quality education. Ensuring universal access to education is the single greatest factor that transformed our own country and it would not have happened without adequate investment in the teaching profession — the backbone of the education system.

"For this reason, the Embassy of Ireland has continued to partner with New Vision, the largest media group in Uganda and Travelcare Uganda on the Teachers Making a Difference initiative, which values, honours and awards Uganda's best teachers.

"The partnership has grown year and year and has proved that recognizing teachers' efforts motivates them more. lreland values this partnership as much as a great example of innovation in a public, private partnership, offering high value and profiling visibility for our partners.

"I would like to acknowledge and appreciate the commitment of some key partners: the Ministry of Education and Sports, Vision Group and Travelcare and the Irish embassy in Uganda."

Colgan goes on to quote English book author and poet Michael Morpurgo, who famously said: “It's the teacher that makes the difference, not the classroom.”

"It is important that we pause and acknowledge the difference that some teachers in our communities are making and I am proud to be part of that today.

"The initiative allows the public to nominate the best performing teachers within their communities while the independence of the jury of educationalists — who are here today, and thank you all for all your hard work on that — assess the nominees to identify the outstanding ones based on set criteria.

"The response from the public has grown each year, proving that communities and parents value their teachers, recognize them and appreciate them.

"To date, 60 teachers have been recognized and awarded while 22 teachers have travelled to Ireland for a weeklong study trip exposing them to innovations in education and teaching in a modern classroom setting. 

"In 2022, the delegation included three representatives from the education ministry. They also had an opportunity to visit Irish schools and classrooms to observe teaching methods and approaches such as child-centred learning, positive discipline methods, classroom management and support for special needs learners in the classroom.

"While they themselves learned and saw and experienced different things in Ireland, I think we cannot underestimate the role that they played as ambassadors of Uganda to Ireland and their experience and enthusiasm and energy that they brought to Irish classrooms has been recognized and fed back to me on a  number of occasions.

"The Teachers Making a Difference partnership continues to evolve and this year, I am delighted to say, we are also investing in the alumni of teachers to foster a network and continued learning and motivation beyond the awards ceremonies or travel to Ireland.

"These teachers demonstrate excellence in their work and went the extra mile.

"Ireland in Uganda, through its mission strategy 2023-2027 will aim to continue to work with the Ministry of Education and Sports to further strengthen institutional linkages and teacher training between Ireland and Uganda, and this complementary vision of this partnership we celebrate here today.

"We are very excited about this dimension and it will go a long way in actionalizing the teacher training policy and the teacher incentives framework.
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 3:12 PM   

Next up is a documentary of the Teachers Making a Difference project.

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 3:00 PM     |     Vision Group's new product: Teen Vision

The Vision Group chief says the multimedia company is introducing a new product: Teen Vision, which he says is a "noble undertaking".

"This is a product we shall be publishing in the New Vision every Tuesday, starting this December. It is going to be a four-page standalone product with a very distinct character," he tells guests.

According to the State of the Population Report, more than half of Uganda's population is under 18 years of age. Media statistics in Uganda indicate that the majority of young youths are heavily using  social media as their main source of information, education and entertainment.

"However, there is growing concern about the unregulated information that the youth pick from social media. Moral degeneration of teens has been partly attributed to this. At various occasions, social psychologists have called for innovations to be able to address this challenge.

"With this product [Teen Vision], Vision Group is responding to this call by creating a platform for the youth to engage constructively.

Wanyama says the company he leads intends to use this new product "to help the youth appreciate their identity and purpose in life so that they can be able to live to their full potential".

"It is an educational, entertaining and value-based product that should be able to keep our youth healthy in behavioral choices, combatting the spread of HIV and AIDS, etc."

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 2:55 PM    

After making introductions, Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama says: "We celebrate teachers because they are role models and they are critical mentors to our young people children".

Adding: "Teachers do not only impart academic knowledge, but also teach important life skills such as resilience, empathy and perseverance. They create a space and inclusive environment where children can express themselves."

This year, 12 winners, who have been selected through a very rigorous process by a jury led by Barbara Ofwono, have been picked from a total of 425 nominees.

Out of the dozen winners, the top six teachers will to travel to Ireland for a weeklong all expenses-paid professional trip.

Since coming on board in 2017, Wanyama says the Embassy of Ireland to Uganda has contributed a total of 225,000 Euros (about sh916 million) to the Teachers Making a Difference project.

Travel Care, one of the partners, contributes by paying for the return tickets of all the winners plus the journalists travelling along to document the experiences.

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 2:47 PM    

"Today is a great day — great because we get to recognize some of Uganda's best teachers," says New Vision Editor John Eremu, who is also the coordinator of the Teachers Making a Difference competition.

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 2:38 PM    |     Chief guest arrives

 BREAKING NEWS 

The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, has arrived at the Vision Group head office.

She is the chief guest of the Teachers Making a Difference Awards 2023 ceremony.

Anthems will follow shortly after: Uganda, East Africa and Ireland anthems in that order.

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 2:32 PM    

The education ministry's permanent secretary, Ketty Lamaro, has also arrived.

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 2:20 PM    

Kevin Colgan, the Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda, has arrived.

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 2:12 PM    

Vision Group CEO Don Wanyama, has gone with a blue suit look.

Vision Group Editor-in-Chief Barbara Kaija greeting the guests before the start of the ceremony.

Vision Group staff attending the function.

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 2:05 PM    

A team from the Embassy of Ireland in Uganda has arrived.

New Vision Editor John Eremu greets one of the embassy officials.

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 1:58 PM    |     Just about time...

A reminder that the Teachers Making a Difference Awards 2023 ceremony will be getting under way short at the Vision Group head office in Kampala.

The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, is the chief guest. Also present will be the Ambassador of Ireland in Uganda and the education ministry's permanent secretary.

Meanwhile, the function's co-emcee, Dinah Nalubega (pictured below), is doing a good job of warming the stage.

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 1:41 PM    

It's happy faces and familiar encounters here.

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 1:41 PM    

It's fair to say that for a ceremony that features the best teachers on the land, the decor team got the assignment spot on.

Full marks for this effort!

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 1:34 PM    

In the picture below, Vision Group board member Dr Patricia Litho (left) has a chat with Vision Group Deputy MD and Company Secretary Gervase Ndyanabo, as they, too, wait for the ceremony to begin.

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 1:30 PM    

The guests are sat and waiting patiently for the ceremony to get under way.

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 1:09 PM    |     But first, some lunch — anyone?

As the invited guests continue to settle in at the beautifully ornated venue, it is the perfect time to tame one's appetite with a plate of lunchilious goodness.

The guests have a variety of foods to choose from.

Bon appétit!

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 1:00 PM    |     Good afternoon

Hello and welcome to New Vision's live text coverage of today's awarding ceremony of the best teachers in Uganda for this year.

The exceptional teachers making a positive difference in their schools and communities are set to be awarded at the Vision Group head office — the home of New Vision, Bukedde et al — in Industrial Area, Kampala. The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, is the chief guest.

Be sure to follow along. The function that is scheduled to start at 2:30pm will be aired on Vision Group television stations: Urban TV, Bukedde TV1, Wan Luo TV, TV East and TV West.