Nsibambi unveils learner-friendly school project

Jul 30, 2006

PRIME Minister Prof Apollo Nsibambi recently launched a project aimed at increasing the retention of pupils in primary schools.

By Vision Reporters

PRIME Minister Prof Apollo Nsibambi recently launched a project aimed at increasing the retention of pupils in primary schools.

The Increasing Retention Through Improved Literacy and Learner-Friendly School Project, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, aims at creating a learner-friendly environment in schools.

Over 70% of pupils in Uganda drop out of school before reaching Primary Seven.
Speaking at the launch at Kibugga Primary School in Mpigi district, Nsibambi attributed the high drop-out rate to failure by pupils to master the basic skills of listening, reading, writing and speaking English.
He hailed the policy of instructing pupils From Primary One to Three in their mother tongue, saying English should only be taught as a subject.

“It is imperative to improve the learning and teaching of English right from Primary One through the early years of schooling such that by the time the pupils reach Primary Four, they have acquired skills to enable them learn effectively in English across the curriculum,” Nsibambi said.

The project is being implemented by the Makerere Institute of Social Research (MISR), Kyambogo University, the education ministry, Makerere University schools of education and that of industrial and fine arts, the faculty of technology and Nakaseke and Kabulasoke primary teacher colleges.

The researchers said their assessment had shown that girls drop out of school when they reach puberty due to lack of sanitary towels and water.

Nsibambi sent the audience into wild cheers when he joined the dancing pupils, dished out cash and later displayed his wallet to demonstrate that he had donated all the money he carried. He also amused the audience when he rolled on one of the beds at the school sick-bay.

Education minister, Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire said Kibugga was chosen to act as the model school because rural schools are prone to the problems the project intends to address.

Kibugga is a modest rural primary school with barely seven classrooms and has been forced to set aside two rooms to accommodate the project and its materials.

The materials, mainly reading and instructional materials were developed by the researchers, as well as the kit that would simplify the learning of English.

Some of the materials include washing cans, locally-improvised sanitary pads and a resting room for girls in case of dizziness during menstrual periods.

Nsibambi encouraged the research team to continue experimenting with the materials to provide evidence on how specific actions can reduce drop-out rates and improve performance among pupils.

MISR director Dr Nakanyike Musisi said the project aims at enabling pupils stay in school by simplifying the teaching and learning of English especially in rural schools.

She said through research, they had also developed ‘Growing Up and Sexual Materials’ like locally-made sanitary pads, to help pupils manage the transition to adolescence.

Rockefeller Foundation’s regional representative Kasalina Namuddu said although they were able to fund the project in a few model schools, the Government should help other schools take it on.

Namuddu called upon other schools to replicate the idea.

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