Kampala schools show off their knowledge and skills
The Aga Khan Foundation’s Enhance Universal Primary Education project and Kampala City Council have empowered teachers and pupils. They use local materials to develop teaching and learning aids, writes Catherine Ntabadde
The Aga Khan Foundation’s Enhance Universal Primary Education project and Kampala City Council have empowered teachers and pupils. They use local materials to develop teaching and learning aids, writes Catherine Ntabadde
WHEN the Government introduced Universal Primary Education (UPE), most people argued that the quality of education in primary schools would diminish due to increased enrolment.
Whereas it is true that the quality of education diminished in some districts, that is not the case in Kampala City. Since its inception in 1997, UPE schools in the city have continued to perform well.
Teachers of UPE schools in Kampala have acquired new teaching skills, the teachers and pupils now freely express themselves, and the reading culture has improved thanks to Kampala City Council (KCC) and the Aga Khan Education Services (AKES).
KCC and the AKES Uganda introduced the Enhancement of Universal Primary Education (UPEK) project to improve the quality of education in city UPE schools.
UPEK which is funded by Aga Khan Foundation Uganda, European Union and DFID also encourages the use of low cost reading materials using local resources.
The project introduced in 1995 is aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning in government aided primary schools in the city. It covers 65 schools, according to the project director Dr. Lawrence Kanyike.
On October 21, KCC and Aga Khan organised an open day for EUPEK at City Hall. The day was characterised by schools visits and exhibitions.
Several educationists visited some of the school where the project is implemented. The schools visited are Gaba Demonstration School, Kitebi PS, St. Lawrence Kigoowa PS, Kiswa Primary, Mpererwe CU PS, Kibuye PS.
During the visits, it was discovered that children are grouped in groups of four or five to enable them learn easier. The grouping style of teaching enables teachers to handle big classes.
In all the schools visited, the pupils were able to explain to the guests what they have learnt in English.
Inspecting one of the schools, Prof. Lutalo Bbosa, the chairman, EUPEK project advisory committee noted:
“There are several things you can witness in class because of this project. Group teaching has helped pupils learn from each other. This was not the case with the traditional teachers. Teachers used to think they are the only teachers. Group teaching leads to fast learning.â€
Lutalo is also the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University. He told Education Vision that learning in the schools where EUPEK is being implemented has become easier because learning aids which are processed from local materials.
“There is an improvement in the learning system. The reading materials assist the learning process of a learner,†he added.
Lecoboan Ssengabi, headteacher of St. Peter’s PS said EUPEK has boosted the quality of education in his school. He said the initiators of the project introduced resource centres which have equipped teachers with various skills and knowledge.
“Before EUPEK was introduced, the school had a reading problem. The handwriting of pupils was very bad but the project has encouraged a policy on handwriting. Our children can now freely express them because they are independent learners,†Ssengabi told Education Vision.
Several schools under EUPEK exhibited their skills at City Hall. They were Rubaga Girls PS, Kibuli Demonstration School, St. Peter’s Kanyanya, East Kololo PS.
John Ssebaana Kizito, Kampala Mayor, who visited some of the schools and officiated at the open day hailed government for introducing UPE saying that all school going children are attaining education.
Ssebaana was impressed that pupils in the EUPEK schools can express themselves without assistance from teachers. The Mayor however said UPE needs the support of pupils and parents so that it expands.
He said grouping children when still young helps them attain leadership skills and learn faster. Ssebaana hailed Aga Khan for introducing a new teaching style and low cost reading materials. The mayor noted the need of instilling the reading culture in pupils.
“Pupils should read widely. Uganda’s reading culture is low. Let us instill culture in children. This will help us get authors of the books they will read,†Ssebaana said.
Muwonge Kewaza, the city education officer noted high enrolment under UPE has been achieved and KCC was now focusing on retention.
“We are now slowly but steadily focusing on retention. We want to ensure that children complete their seven-year cycle in school. We are moving away from quantity to quality,†he told Education Vision.
WHEN the Government introduced Universal Primary Education (UPE), most people argued that the quality of education in primary schools would diminish due to increased enrolment.
Whereas it is true that the quality of education diminished in some districts, that is not the case in Kampala City. Since its inception in 1997, UPE schools in the city have continued to perform well.
Teachers of UPE schools in Kampala have acquired new teaching skills, the teachers and pupils now freely express themselves, and the reading culture has improved thanks to Kampala City Council (KCC) and the Aga Khan Education Services (AKES).
KCC and the AKES Uganda introduced the Enhancement of Universal Primary Education (UPEK) project to improve the quality of education in city UPE schools.
UPEK which is funded by Aga Khan Foundation Uganda, European Union and DFID also encourages the use of low cost reading materials using local resources.
The project introduced in 1995 is aimed at improving the quality of teaching and learning in government aided primary schools in the city. It covers 65 schools, according to the project director Dr. Lawrence Kanyike.
On October 21, KCC and Aga Khan organised an open day for EUPEK at City Hall. The day was characterised by schools visits and exhibitions.
Several educationists visited some of the school where the project is implemented. The schools visited are Gaba Demonstration School, Kitebi PS, St. Lawrence Kigoowa PS, Kiswa Primary, Mpererwe CU PS, Kibuye PS.
During the visits, it was discovered that children are grouped in groups of four or five to enable them learn easier. The grouping style of teaching enables teachers to handle big classes.
In all the schools visited, the pupils were able to explain to the guests what they have learnt in English.
Inspecting one of the schools, Prof. Lutalo Bbosa, the chairman, EUPEK project advisory committee noted:
“There are several things you can witness in class because of this project. Group teaching has helped pupils learn from each other. This was not the case with the traditional teachers. Teachers used to think they are the only teachers. Group teaching leads to fast learning.â€
Lutalo is also the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University. He told Education Vision that learning in the schools where EUPEK is being implemented has become easier because learning aids which are processed from local materials.
“There is an improvement in the learning system. The reading materials assist the learning process of a learner,†he added.
Lecoboan Ssengabi, headteacher of St. Peter’s PS said EUPEK has boosted the quality of education in his school. He said the initiators of the project introduced resource centres which have equipped teachers with various skills and knowledge.
“Before EUPEK was introduced, the school had a reading problem. The handwriting of pupils was very bad but the project has encouraged a policy on handwriting. Our children can now freely express them because they are independent learners,†Ssengabi told Education Vision.
Several schools under EUPEK exhibited their skills at City Hall. They were Rubaga Girls PS, Kibuli Demonstration School, St. Peter’s Kanyanya, East Kololo PS.
John Ssebaana Kizito, Kampala Mayor, who visited some of the schools and officiated at the open day hailed government for introducing UPE saying that all school going children are attaining education.
Ssebaana was impressed that pupils in the EUPEK schools can express themselves without assistance from teachers. The Mayor however said UPE needs the support of pupils and parents so that it expands.
He said grouping children when still young helps them attain leadership skills and learn faster. Ssebaana hailed Aga Khan for introducing a new teaching style and low cost reading materials. The mayor noted the need of instilling the reading culture in pupils.
“Pupils should read widely. Uganda’s reading culture is low. Let us instill culture in children. This will help us get authors of the books they will read,†Ssebaana said.
Muwonge Kewaza, the city education officer noted high enrolment under UPE has been achieved and KCC was now focusing on retention.
“We are now slowly but steadily focusing on retention. We want to ensure that children complete their seven-year cycle in school. We are moving away from quantity to quality,†he told Education Vision.