Canon Apolo Salvaged From Ruins
Mar 28, 2004
Sitting on a 91-acre piece of land at the foot of the mighty Rwenzori Mountains, Canon Apolo Core Primary Teachers’ College is a living testimony of donor money put to excellent use.
By Adyeri Kanyaihe
Sitting on a 91-acre piece of land at the foot of the mighty Rwenzori Mountains, Canon Apolo Core Primary Teachers’ College is a living testimony of donor money put to excellent use.
Canon Apolo is located near Nyakasura School in Kabarole district, eight kilometres on the Fort Portal-Bundibugyo Road and two kilometres off the same road.
The college was named after Canon Apolo Kivebulaya, a famous African Anglican evangelist who spread Christianity in Uganda, Rwanda and Boga Zaire (now DRC) in the first half of the last century.
It has evolved over the years from a small Normal School established in 1910 by the Native Anglican Church Missionaries at Kabarole hill in Fort Portal to its present site as a Core Primary Teachers’ College.
It was transferred to Nyakasura in 1936 and in 1938 its status changed from a Normal School to Nyakasura Vernacular Teacher Training College (VTTC).
With its new status under Mr. Ramshaw, it trained teachers to teach in the Native Anglican Church Elementary schools in the then Western Region which covered the districts of Bunyoro, Toro, Ankole and Kigezi.
In 1957 the college was upgraded to a Primary Teacher Training College (PTTC) which trained grade 2 teachers, a grade which has now been phased out.
Following the recommendation of the 1963 Castle Commission Report the college closed in 1966. During the time it was closed, its buildings were kept under the care of Nyakasura School.
Canon Apolo re-opened in 1982 as a grade III Primary Teachers’ College with Mr. Stephen Rwankwenge as its principal. Six years later in 1988 under the Primary Education Reform Programme (PERP) the college was elevated to a Core Primary Teachers’ college headed by Mr. Edward Nduhukire.
As a result of this, the Ministry of Education and Sports secured funding from Ireland Aid (now Modern Development Co-operation Ireland) to renovate and construct new college buildings and provide new facilities to enable the Core PTC handle more programmes and responsibilities.
“The Irish are very strict on accountability and have picked interest in the college because they see that their money is being put to good use,†says Nduhukire.
Indeed there is no doubt the money has been put to good use. The original buildings built between 1938 and 1946 were dilapidated and too few to accommodate a core PTC. It was therefore necessary to build new ones to meet the demands of the college’s new status as a focal point in PERP and Teacher Development and Management System (TDMS).
The transformation Canon Apolo has undergone is pleasant and amazing. The college has been expanded and improved beyond recognition. Every building dons a light green roof with a solar panel.
With the towering Rwenzori ranges in the background, it is a spectacular sight! The old has given way to the new through meticulous renovation and construction of new structures.
Nearly sh2bn has been sunk into the construction of new buildings, which are the majority and the renovation of old ones. All the old buildings which were not good enough were razed and replaced with modern. Those which were renovated were done so well that they look as good as new. All the foot paths are paved with durable and beautiful interlocking bricks and one has to think twice before stepping on the green areas.
New dormitories, classrooms, a library and conference hall, a laboratory, 21 staff houses and a house for a resident medical officer have been built. There are also playgrounds for football and athletics, volleyball, netball, tennis and basket ball. A gravity water system provides running water in all the college premises. In addition, the college is enclosed in a chain-link fence, complete with a gate.
“Proplan Consultants took special interest in the construction of every building because they are people from this district and know very well that the area is earthquake-prone,†Mr. Nduhukire observed.
As a result of the increased and improved facilities, Canon Apolo Core PTC has enlisted a number of achievements. The enrolment of students in both pre-service and in-service has improved considerably. From 380 students in 1997, the student enrolment today has shot up to 878.
With the new conference facilities and good accommodation, Canon Apolo has become a centre for workshops.
So far, national and regional workshops have been organised by African Youth Alliance in conjunction with the National Curriculum Development Centre. Parents Concern and the Embassy of Ireland have also organised workshops at the college. In all, Canon Apolo has already conducted three workshops for pre-service students and tutors and 42 for outreach headteachers.
In 2001 the college had the best student in the National Mathematics contest in the college category and in 2002 it was third in the Primary Teacher category. The principal strongly believes that the new environment has had a lot to do with this performance.
Ireland Aid has provided a number of computers to the college to enable students make good instructional materials for teaching-learning purposes.
At present, all students and tutors are undertaking basic computer training to fulfil this purpose. To sensitise the youth and community on HIV/AIDS, Canon Apolo has formed a drama group called Anti-AIDS Club. The club has participated in all district HIV/AIDS-related functions.
Through its outreach department the college has trained 160 teachers and 380 in-service student are now under training. Two-hundred-forty headteachers have already been trained while 100 have been recruited for training.
With all its achievements, Canon Apolo has its challenges. One of its greatest challenges is going to be the maintenance of the ultra-modern facilities. This might call for some modest cost-sharing as it will not be possible for the donors to support the college indefinitely. Canon Apolo is also not adequately staffed especially with science tutors.
Kabarole, Kasese, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo and Bundibugyo districts do not have a single National Teachers’ College (NTC) which trains Grade V teachers. Considering the size of the region, this is anomalous. With some little expansion, political goodwill and strategic management Canon Apolo is well-placed to incorporate a superb NTC and still maintain its present programmes as a Grade III Core college.
A grade V programme designed specifically for teacher education would be most very useful.
A grade V programme to train teachers to handle children with disabilities had been mooted but there is nothing so far on the ground.
According to sources at the college, not a single member of parliament in Kabarole or any of the neighbouring districts has ever visited Canon Apolo in an official capacity. This perhaps explains why the two-kilometre stretch from the main road to the college is in a bad state. It’s a pity!
The Church of Uganda needs to define the college boundaries and give them legal status because there are unconfirmed reports of some encroachment on its land.
All said, Ireland Aid has done a wonderful job and Canon Apolo is a beautiful model of value for money.
Ends
Sitting on a 91-acre piece of land at the foot of the mighty Rwenzori Mountains, Canon Apolo Core Primary Teachers’ College is a living testimony of donor money put to excellent use.
Canon Apolo is located near Nyakasura School in Kabarole district, eight kilometres on the Fort Portal-Bundibugyo Road and two kilometres off the same road.
The college was named after Canon Apolo Kivebulaya, a famous African Anglican evangelist who spread Christianity in Uganda, Rwanda and Boga Zaire (now DRC) in the first half of the last century.
It has evolved over the years from a small Normal School established in 1910 by the Native Anglican Church Missionaries at Kabarole hill in Fort Portal to its present site as a Core Primary Teachers’ College.
It was transferred to Nyakasura in 1936 and in 1938 its status changed from a Normal School to Nyakasura Vernacular Teacher Training College (VTTC).
With its new status under Mr. Ramshaw, it trained teachers to teach in the Native Anglican Church Elementary schools in the then Western Region which covered the districts of Bunyoro, Toro, Ankole and Kigezi.
In 1957 the college was upgraded to a Primary Teacher Training College (PTTC) which trained grade 2 teachers, a grade which has now been phased out.
Following the recommendation of the 1963 Castle Commission Report the college closed in 1966. During the time it was closed, its buildings were kept under the care of Nyakasura School.
Canon Apolo re-opened in 1982 as a grade III Primary Teachers’ College with Mr. Stephen Rwankwenge as its principal. Six years later in 1988 under the Primary Education Reform Programme (PERP) the college was elevated to a Core Primary Teachers’ college headed by Mr. Edward Nduhukire.
As a result of this, the Ministry of Education and Sports secured funding from Ireland Aid (now Modern Development Co-operation Ireland) to renovate and construct new college buildings and provide new facilities to enable the Core PTC handle more programmes and responsibilities.
“The Irish are very strict on accountability and have picked interest in the college because they see that their money is being put to good use,†says Nduhukire.
Indeed there is no doubt the money has been put to good use. The original buildings built between 1938 and 1946 were dilapidated and too few to accommodate a core PTC. It was therefore necessary to build new ones to meet the demands of the college’s new status as a focal point in PERP and Teacher Development and Management System (TDMS).
The transformation Canon Apolo has undergone is pleasant and amazing. The college has been expanded and improved beyond recognition. Every building dons a light green roof with a solar panel.
With the towering Rwenzori ranges in the background, it is a spectacular sight! The old has given way to the new through meticulous renovation and construction of new structures.
Nearly sh2bn has been sunk into the construction of new buildings, which are the majority and the renovation of old ones. All the old buildings which were not good enough were razed and replaced with modern. Those which were renovated were done so well that they look as good as new. All the foot paths are paved with durable and beautiful interlocking bricks and one has to think twice before stepping on the green areas.
New dormitories, classrooms, a library and conference hall, a laboratory, 21 staff houses and a house for a resident medical officer have been built. There are also playgrounds for football and athletics, volleyball, netball, tennis and basket ball. A gravity water system provides running water in all the college premises. In addition, the college is enclosed in a chain-link fence, complete with a gate.
“Proplan Consultants took special interest in the construction of every building because they are people from this district and know very well that the area is earthquake-prone,†Mr. Nduhukire observed.
As a result of the increased and improved facilities, Canon Apolo Core PTC has enlisted a number of achievements. The enrolment of students in both pre-service and in-service has improved considerably. From 380 students in 1997, the student enrolment today has shot up to 878.
With the new conference facilities and good accommodation, Canon Apolo has become a centre for workshops.
So far, national and regional workshops have been organised by African Youth Alliance in conjunction with the National Curriculum Development Centre. Parents Concern and the Embassy of Ireland have also organised workshops at the college. In all, Canon Apolo has already conducted three workshops for pre-service students and tutors and 42 for outreach headteachers.
In 2001 the college had the best student in the National Mathematics contest in the college category and in 2002 it was third in the Primary Teacher category. The principal strongly believes that the new environment has had a lot to do with this performance.
Ireland Aid has provided a number of computers to the college to enable students make good instructional materials for teaching-learning purposes.
At present, all students and tutors are undertaking basic computer training to fulfil this purpose. To sensitise the youth and community on HIV/AIDS, Canon Apolo has formed a drama group called Anti-AIDS Club. The club has participated in all district HIV/AIDS-related functions.
Through its outreach department the college has trained 160 teachers and 380 in-service student are now under training. Two-hundred-forty headteachers have already been trained while 100 have been recruited for training.
With all its achievements, Canon Apolo has its challenges. One of its greatest challenges is going to be the maintenance of the ultra-modern facilities. This might call for some modest cost-sharing as it will not be possible for the donors to support the college indefinitely. Canon Apolo is also not adequately staffed especially with science tutors.
Kabarole, Kasese, Kamwenge, Kyenjojo and Bundibugyo districts do not have a single National Teachers’ College (NTC) which trains Grade V teachers. Considering the size of the region, this is anomalous. With some little expansion, political goodwill and strategic management Canon Apolo is well-placed to incorporate a superb NTC and still maintain its present programmes as a Grade III Core college.
A grade V programme designed specifically for teacher education would be most very useful.
A grade V programme to train teachers to handle children with disabilities had been mooted but there is nothing so far on the ground.
According to sources at the college, not a single member of parliament in Kabarole or any of the neighbouring districts has ever visited Canon Apolo in an official capacity. This perhaps explains why the two-kilometre stretch from the main road to the college is in a bad state. It’s a pity!
The Church of Uganda needs to define the college boundaries and give them legal status because there are unconfirmed reports of some encroachment on its land.
All said, Ireland Aid has done a wonderful job and Canon Apolo is a beautiful model of value for money.
Ends