P7 leavers prepared for transition to secondary school

Crossing over to secondary school and fitting in does not come easy for some primary seven leavers. The transition comes with a mixture of excitement and anxiety.  

In other words, much as these children are excited to join secondary school, they also have different fears.

Josephine Zhane Omunyidde, the founder of Engender Girls’ Mentorship (EGM) says, learners should be helped by equipping them with the knowledge and tips they need to navigate the several challenges that await them in this new phase of life.

The girls were taken through confidence building drills. (Photo by Ritah Mukasa)

For that reason, on February 15, she organized a one-day camp for girls who are preparing to join secondary school.

It happened at EGM offices located in Kira trading center, Wakiso district.

Over 30 girls attended the camp under the theme; Preparation for Transition to Secondary School for P7 Leavers.

Some are joining international schools while others are going to prominent traditional schools.

After a prayer session, the girls were taken through confidence-building drills in the morning. These involved dance moves and other physical exercises.   

Thereafter, the girls formed two groups and shared their fears and expectations, which they wrote down and shared with the bigger group.

Prominent of the fears were; shaving off their hair, bathing cold water, feeding on posho and beans, being bullied, studying many subjects, research, strict teachers, rules and regulations.

Others feared early morning preps, being called by their surnames and being away from their parents and house helps.

Maureen Ouma Atuhumwize, mentor and EGM general manager counselled the girls to anchor their lives on God; trust Him in good and bad situations.

“Have a mantra that will remind you to be strong and also affirm to yourself that you are beautiful, brilliant and a conqueror,” she said.

Atuhumwize also emphasized the need for the girls to be confident, focused, and resilient with good character.

Charity Abadhi, another mentor cautioned the girls against joining bad groups and yielding to peer pressure.

They also discussed the issue of relationships; why they should make good friends that will last, how to identify and avoid bad peers and how to handle crashes.

Meanwhile, Omunyidde says Engender nurtures the next generation woman thought leaders.

They believe in supporting the girls from an early age to safely navigate the transitions in the early years of life through the attainment of knowledge, life skills while putting their fears at bay and confidently sharpening perceptions.

“This special mentorship session prepares the girls psychologically on what to expect in secondary schools and how to surmount any challenges they may encounter,” she says.

Last year, immediately after Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) EGM held a four-day P7 leavers camp where over 50 girls shared an array of fears and expectations of the life ahead.

“Even today, almost 90% of what they have shared still shows more of fears than positive attitude towards secondary school,” she says.

“Based on the above, we have discussed the need for them to become more resilient and confident,” she adds.

One of the girls with her mentor Josephine Zhane Omunyidde. (Photo by Ritah Mukasa)

Samalie Batula, a mentor, reminded the girls to be content with their family background and appreciate the way God created them. This will help them to live within their means, focus on their academics and appreciate others as well.

Statistics

According to UNICEF, all children need access to quality education.

However, many drop out or are absent from class for several reasons. Among poor families, the cost of school uniforms, books, stationery, and saving funds becomes too much to bear, pushing children out of school or leading families into debt.

Illness and domestic work also keeps many children from attending school on a regular basis. Children with disabilities, orphans and other disadvantaged children are especially at risk of school exclusion. Also, the school environment and teachers have a great impact on students’ achievement.

UNICEF also indicates that violence against children is commonplace in Ugandan schools, including caning and other forms of outlawed corporal punishment. In addition, many children report being abused by a teacher or bullied in school.

Meanwhile, while releasing results of the 2022 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) recently, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) Executive Director, Dan. N. Odongo revealed that of the 832654 candidates who sat the exams, 97,109 failed.

"Such candidates should not be admitted to Senior One, but should repeat as they will not be eligible to register for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination later," Odongo said.

According to government, senior one students report for first term on February 20, 2023.