PROFILE

Jan 13, 2009

THE students are busy. The bell signaling the next lesson has just rung. They have to be in class early. They have got a physics class to catch. The teacher is already in class, waiting to begin the lesson.

Everlight college stresses all-round
education

By S. Ssenkaaba

THE students are busy. The bell signaling the next lesson has just rung. They have to be in class early. They have got a physics class to catch. The teacher is already in class, waiting to begin the lesson.

The syllabus has to be finished before the end of the year. So she has decided to borrow the students’ free time putting in an hour or two of what would be time for sports, drama and other co-curricular activities to do extra coaching on question interpretation and “objectives.”

It is about 7:00pm now and the students are tired and yet they have got to go for evening prep to catch. So they have to rush for a quick bath and return to class immediately. The day scholars have left with their homework.

This is a typical Ugandan secondary school routine. Congested, hectic and mind-bogglingly. On a typical day, an average Ugandan student spends 13 working days in class, with just a few minutes’ breaks for meals and stretching.
Many schools and education institutions are well aware of the straining effects this system has on learners.

Unfortunately, few have come up with creative options to spice up such monotony.

Everlight College is one of the few schools leading the way in creative teaching methods that harness not only the academic, but also the cognitive abilities of students. Located in Bunga, off Ggabba Road, Everlight is a day and boarding secondary school set up on a strong Christian foundation.

“We look at education not merely as academic work but more of a lifestyle; one that students should enjoy,” says Specioza Suruma, the co-founder and director of the school. Everlight College, she says, puts special emphasis on turning students into wholesome individuals who have a clear understanding of the important role they must play in their communities as future leaders and patriots of their own country.

The school has, on top of teaching the traditional academic subjects, introduced practical components into the daily school curriculum. These include volunteerism, entrepreneurship, and community service.

The school insists on teaching self-reliance and encourages innovativeness. It also teaches moral and spiritual values such as faith, spirituality and integrity as part of its programme.

Under this arrangement, the school has put in place a system where older and brighter students reach out to their younger and struggling counterparts.

“We, for example, get bright students in upper classes to go and explain tough topics to their younger counterparts,” explains Suruma.

The school also regularly sends students to the neighbourhood to help out old and vulnerable people with their household chores.

The school involves students in the learning process.

“We try as much as possible to get students involved in their academic subjects. We challenge them to use the knowledge in the textbooks to develop relevant ideas from their own environment,” says Suruma.

“When studying about light for example, students do not depend entirely on the textbook and teachers’ notes. They are challenged to go out and create light using local materials and to create situations where this light can be used and how it can be maintained.”

That way, she says, they get more involved and enjoy the learning process.
Everlight College also emphasises sports, drama, debating and other extra-curricular activities that encourage students to discover and exploit their talents.

As part of its programmes, the school is planning to cooperate with a community college in the United States to offer such skills as interior design, textile design and food processing.
The school also emphasises spiritual formation through prayer and Christian values.

“We apply a Biblical worldview in teaching all our academic subjects as well as African values in relation to African culture and history. All this, is aimed at training people that will cause positive change in society.

“We want to produce job makers, lifelong learners and not just job seekers. When a student leaves Everlight College, we want him to be able to perform and cope effectively,” says Suruma.

Despite its emphasis on practical education, Everlight College has also registered commendable academic progress. It was ranked 117 out of the 1,000 top performing schools in the country in the Uganda National Exams Board results last year.

The school was one of the only 12 schools in the country picked to host a National Science Exhibition that was conducted by the Uganda National Council for Science and Technology in 2008.

Everlight College has already sent its first batch of students to Makerere, Mukono and Ndejje universities, among other institutions of higher of learning. Some of the former Everlight College students are doing careers in law, education, financial management, economics, engineering, IT, carpentry, tailoring and plumbing.

It continues to play a transformative role in the lives of its current students.
Enid Kababiito was a shy girl. She could not talk confidently and feared to express herself. Today, she is the school headgirl.

“Everlight College has trained me to believe in myself. Through the different leadership roles, I have learnt to be responsible and to express myself,” she says.

Ssengendo Henry was stubborn and cheeky as a young boy in Senior ne four years ago. Today, he tells of how his life has been positively transformed at this school.

“I have learnt to be more responsible and to always put God before everything else,” he said.
Asha Wanyenze believes the all-round education offered at Everlight College has put her on the path to a bright future.

“I could hardly read and write well. Thanks to the well stocked library and mentoring from our teachers, I am a good writer and will hopefully become a professional,” she says.

The same sentiments are echoed by a parent.

“After just a few years of attending Everlight College, my child’s behaviour was admirable. She takes her studies a lot more seriously and is behaving more responsibly at home,” she says.

Everlight College was established in 2001 by Specioza Suruma. It was opened as a low-cost secondary school targeting children from disadvantaged backgrounds.

The school was named Everlight College, following a biblical extract. “You are the light of the world…” From very humble beginnings with just three students and a few teachers, the school has grown from strength to strength.

Today, it accommodates students from all backgrounds.
For all its challenges, Everlight College has surely lived up to its name.

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