TEACHERS | MAKING | DIFFERENCE

DUBLIN - The 11 teachers plus a team from Uganda's Ministry of Education and officials from the Irish Embassy in Kampala have Thursday reached Ireland.

They scheduled to meet Colm Brophy, the Irish Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora and later the Director General Irish Aid, Michael Gaffney, before retiring to Camden hotel where they booked for the next two days.

"I am very excited to be here," remarked Sr. Gladyce Kachope, the headteacher Immaculate Heart Girls' School Rukungiri.

"I look forward to more interactive activities and professional engagement with my colleagues," added the nun who has been chosen as team leader of the winning teachers.

"It's been a tiring but worthwhile trip," said Samuel Abong of Naitakwe Primary School Moroto.

"I am excited and would like to learn a lot from this exposure tour, especially about educational management and administration where I am interested," added Abong.

In the video below, star teachers board KLM plane from Amsterdam to Dublin 👇👇👇

For Norah Anyait, of Chepkararat primary school in Amudat. "The trip was so nice and enjoyable since it was my first time to board a plane. I am looking forward to gaining to sharing experiences that will help me develop in my profession." 

The four are part of the 12 winners of the 2019 and 2020 teachers making a difference competition that rewards and recognises teachers who have gone beyond the professional call of duty and used limited resources to greatly impact their learners and the school communities. 

As part of the prize, they are sponsored for a weeklong all expenses-paid trip to Ireland courtesy of New Vision, the Irish Embassy and Simba Travelcare, one of Uganda's leading tour and travel companies.

The other teachers on the trip are Rose Moiti of Busesa Mixed primary school Iganga, Sr. Prossy Nantege of Kalas Girls primary school Amudat, Ernest Kavulu of Budo Junior school, Raymond Kigongo of St. Joseph's SS Nkooko in Kakumiro.

Also on the trip are Susan Okello of Kotido Mixed primary school, Frank Manyindo Mugene of Ntare School Fort Portal, Tracy Juliet Nansubuga of Gayaza High School.. 

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

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

Sr. Teopista Namukasa of Mary Immaculate primary school Kalungu failed to make for the trip at the last minute on doctors' advice.

The education ministry team is led by Dr. Jane Egau Okou, the Director Higher Education, technical, vocational and teacher training and comprise Max Okiror, the assistant commissioner teacher education, training and development and Benan Steven Kamusongwe, the principal Moroto Core Primary Teacher College.

The Irish Embassy team is led by Lorraine Gallagher, the Head of Cooperation and deputy head of mission and includes Namoe Muhwezi, the Education Advisor at the Embassy and Bonita Fauchan, the Embassy's education executive.