What does it take to excel?

Apr 01, 2001

Serere Senior Secondary School in Soroti District this year produced the best student in 'O' level in Teso region.

Last week the Ministry of Education released the 2000 Uganda Certificate of Examinations (O level) results. Education Vision tracked down some of the best students and brings us their reactions, trials, challenges and dreams. By Vision Reporter Teso's pride Serere Senior Secondary School in Soroti District this year produced the best student in 'O' level in Teso region. Kecha Dick Dawson got aggregate 13. The best student in Kumi District got 22 while the best in Katakwi got 21. Andrew Abok of Kumi Hall was the best in Kumi with aggregate 22. Gerald Ikeesit of Toroma Secondary School in Katakwi District led with 21. The focus was on the Serere boy who surprised Teso. Etop, a New Vision sister paper reports that Serere S.S. is one of the 'third world schools established during the late Obote II regime. "This time God has heard our cry," one of the Serere teachers said. "I have little to say now until I see the results myself," said Nathan Ebiru, the Serere S. S. headmaster. "Kecha has been a bright child and we all expected him to pass well. He ha been leading since 1997 when he joined the school,"Ebiru added. "We could have passed many children but our school lacks science laboratory equipment. Kecha could actually have passed better if we had had all that is required," Ebiru said. * * * Regina always loved school By Edith Kimuli "I cried, I could not believe that I had made it," said Regina Mwenyango, who was the third best female student in the country. Mwenyango says she was inspired into hard work when she was in primary seven. "In 1997, there were very few girls among the best S.4 students, so I thought I would add on the number of girls, who appear in the newspapers," Regina says smiling. Her father, Mr. Everest Mubuuke interrupts her and reminds her of something she could have skipped. He cannot speak in one language because of the excitement. He mixes English and Luganda to stress his point. "You remember that you said you wanted to go to Namagunga when you were in primary three?" the jovial father reminds her 17-year-old daughter. "Yes, but Daddy do you know that at that time I did not know what really Namagunga was like, but I wanted to go there because my friends were also joining the same school," Mwenyango replies. The second in a family of four girls, Mwenyango and her sisters went to Shimoni Demonstration school for primary school. "Shimoni is their spring board," Mubuuke, who is an Alternative Medicine Physician says. "You know the foundation is very important," he adds. About the success of his daughter, Mubuuke says he has no words to express how he felt, but has praises for his daughter's teachers from Kampala Kindergarten, Shimoni and Mt. St. Mary's College Namagunga. Mwenyango attributes her success mainly to the teachers and her friends. "Even your parents, I have never missed a parents' visiting day," her father interjects. "Yes Daddy, I was still talking about school," she tells her father and then turns to me and continues, "My father used to visit me on other days, which were not visiting days and my friends would ask me whether he lived at school," Regina says amidst chuckles. Regina's father also thinks that his daughter's discipline has contributed a lot to her success. "Her mother (Rose Mubuuke) is a disciplinarian, though sometimes she's a bit tough, but this has played a big role in our daughter's success," says Mubuuke. He also says his daughter is hard working and he has never woken her up to go to school or to read. "She used to wake up about three times before dawn, and ask me whether it was time for school. I would tell her to go back and sleep. This was when she was still in primary." He says his daughter reads a lot and their only problem is where to put her books because they are so many. Regina wants to become an engineer or an architect. She says she will do Physics, Chemistry, Maths and Fine Art when she joins S.5. However her father is of a different view. He says, "There is still a difference between a man and a woman. He wants his daughter to at least be an architect, but not a civil engineer dealing in road constructions and the like," Mr. Mubuuke says. But Regina knows her mind. She says she rarely compares herself to others. * * * Mulinde read hard and used the library By Sebidde Kiryowa Sebastian Mulinde has always been a bright student. He beat the S4 class at Ndejje Secondary School in Luwero district in their mock exams. Many, including his parents, knew unless something unforeseeable happened, he would excel in the final exams. But nothing would prepare him for the honour and pride he has brought not just to his family but his school. Sebastian came second in Luwero District in the just released UCE results. He scored aggregate 11 in eight subjects. "Well, you could say this is a surprise. All I ever wanted was to perform well enough to go to the school of my first choice, which is King's College Budo. But the fact that I was able to challenge other brighter students not just at school but in the whole district is something to be grateful about," says the 17-year-old at their home in Kireka. Sebastian's school, Ndejje S.S was the best in the district. The school produced the first five students in Luwero district. The best student at the school and in the district was Absolom Kiyinyi who scored aggregate 9 in eight subjects. But rather than feel discontented about not being the one who grabbed the top spot, especially considering that he beat Absolom in the mocks, Sebastian is not bothered, and with a cause too. "Okay, I was a good student. I excelled and all but that (mocks) was the first time I beat everybody. At school they used to dish out bursaries to the best students to study for free for a term. I never won a bursary even once. Absolom did but I do not remember how many times. Besides, I performed better this time. In mocks I had 12 for eight," Sebastian says contentedly. Sebastian received the news with a lot of excitement, after picking the paper from a news vendor at 7:00a.m. Back home, his parents, Joseph and Anne Mulinde were hysterical. "I was happy when I saw my name in the newspapers. The first thing I did was to pray and thank God," Sebastian a devout Seventh Day Adventist says. He says his parents were so excited they screamed. "I am so happy. Although Sebastian was good, I did not expect this level of excellence. But I had faith in God. I fasted and prayed the whole of that month they sat their exams. But you know exams are tricky. There was no telling what would happen," Mrs Anne Mulinde, who runs a private clinic in Kireka said. Contacted on phone Sebastian's father, a businessman in town said, "As an Adventist, I just thank God for this. Sebastian has always been a bright boy but this, I did not expect." Sebastian acknowledges that getting there was tough. "I read hard. I utilised the library, my teachers and my fellow students. I made sure that I made friends with the brighter students so we could exchange ideas," a smiling Sebastian says. But all this never made the exams, especially science subjects, any easier. "I am looking forward to joining King's College Budo where I intend to read Physics, Chemistry and Maths. I want to be a computer engineer," he says confidently. * * * Apac's best student from Aboke Girls By Ali Mao It was all joy and loud cheers in Peter Okello's home when they learnt that their daughter, Agnes Achieng had performed best at St. Mary's College Aboke in Apac District. "I knew I would do something but not to that extent," Achieng said of her expectation in the 'Ó' level exams. Achieng comes from Apala sub-county, Moroto County, Lira District. Her father, Peter Okello, is a personnel officer with Lira District local government. She was best student in Apac District with aggregate 15 in eight subjects. When the news broke out in the media, Achieng was helping her parents with domestic work. She heard the news over the radio but she thought the name was for another girl. It was after seeing the name of her school that she rejoiced. "I got aggregate 15 because I trusted in God. I was encouraged by my parents and teachers, supported by my family members and friends," Achieng said. "My Daddy always told me that I was good and therefore could make it and I kept his words and I have made it," said Achieng. "I was sure of performing well, though last year's exams were a bit tough. My favourite subjects are Biology, Chemistry and Commerce though English and Mathematics were the key subjects," Achieng who got aggregate 11 in the PLE results added. Achieng's hobbies are reading novels, watching films, football, exchanging letters with friends and travelling. "I would like to join Nabisunsa Girls school or one of the good schools in Kampala and offer Physics, Chemistry and Biology in my 'A' level. And when I go to Makerere University I would struggle hard and go for Medicine," she said. "I was not very surprised about the performance of my daughter because she had been hardworking both at school and at home. It is now a big challenge for us to look for a good school for her," Okello said. * * * Jinja's best student wants to go to Budo but cannot afford it By Abubaker Mukose and Lillian Nalumansi "I heard an announcement over Radio One this morning at 7:30am saying I was the best student in the whole country with aggregate eight in the best eight subjects. I was so excited that the first thing I did was to thank the Almighty God because I knew without Him, I would not have made it," Mubezi Seezi the best student in the 2000 'O' level results in Jinja district said the day the results were released. Seezi led again in Jinja district and the entire Eastern Uganda region after he did the same four years ago in the Primary Leaving Exams. Seezi, 17, is however sad that he might not make it to his dream school King's College Budo because his parents do not have the money to further his education. Seezi, a student of Kiira College Butiki in Jinja has since his senior one been sponsored by the former headmaster of the school, John Richard Isabirye. "I did not give much thought to going back to Butiki because I want to pursue Science subjects which the school is not very good at. This does not mean there are poor performers but the science students do not perform so well. You need to work extra hard to get good points in sciences, " Seezi told The New Vision. Seezi wants to pursue Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology at 'A' level and he wants to become a pharmacist. His father Solomon Wegulo, a peasant in Kakira is a retired instructor formerly working with the Uganda Railways Corporation while his mother is a housewife. Mubezi remembers quite vividly how he had failed to continue his second senior one term because his father could not raise the fees. Isabirye, his former headmaster granted him a scholarship because of his excellent performance. "It is good news to hear that the school invested in the right student. Mubezi was a clever student during his time with us and was always number one in class," Dan Nampindo his former school's deputy headmaster said. He said Mubezi was a disciplined student whose priority was reading books. "He was so reserved that it was rare to finding him playing aimlessly even on weekends," Nampindo said. Nampindo said that having emerged the best student at the school, Seezi has already been granted a scholarship to pursue his 'A' levels. Asked whether he was surprised by his results, Seezi said he was not because "I worked very hard for it. My parents and the school expected this from me and I had to prove that I could still make it at national level." * * * Semucho stuns Mutolere By Darious Magara DEO Seburimage, headmaster of Mutolere Senior Secondary School, said, "I am proud of Stanley Semucho. Semucho got 18 aggregates in the recently released Ordinary Level results. Semucho has been the best in class and a good sportsman. He has been the school's long distance runner and good in 5000 and 1000metres," Semucho further said. * * * Davis Bariho was always the first By Vision Reporter ST Paul's Seminary's best student Davis Bariho, (16) in Kabale District has always been the first or the second in class since senior one. "Bariho has been hardworking and a very disciplined boy. He has stamped our tradition of good performance," the excited headmaster of St. Paul's Seminary said. * * * Rukukye dazzles Mbarara By James Mujuni Anthony Rucukye's dazzling performance in this years 'O' level exams did not surprise anyone at St. Joseph's vocational school, Mbarara. "We knew he was slated for a very brilliant performance," one of his teachers said. Rucukye one of the best students in the whole country, is a son to Mr. Kiiza, an assistant registrar at Makerere university. Teachers at St. Joseph's testify to Rucukye's brilliance. "During the four years he spent here, the worst mark he ever scored in any test was 76% in Geography while in Senior Three," one of the teachers said. You cannot imagine that during the four years he was a student here, he was always the first at the end of every term," the teacher added. Rucukye scored aggregate eight in eight subjects in his 'O' level mock exams. A feat he has returned to perform in the final exams. It was not possible to talk to Rucukye immediately. * * *

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