Primary one interviews: How necessary are they?

Oct 20, 2010

WHEN Janet Namugga’s first-born was ready to start Primary One, she was overwhelmed by excitement. But the excitement was short-lived.

WHEN Janet Namugga’s first-born was ready to start Primary One, she was overwhelmed by excitement. But the excitement was short-lived.

The search for the best school to place her daughter turned out to be frustrating and tedious
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“The whole process was so involving and stressing that I wished I had started looking around for a school from the day I gave birth,” Namugga confessed.

Namugga is not alone; several parents are left at crossroads when choosing a good primary school for their children especially when many schools springing up each day all promise the best education.

Primary One interviews for private schools began recently. This is a trying time for parents and guardians hustling to get the best school to place their children.

“Most parents depend on referrals from friends,” says Julius Othieno, the headteacher Entebbe Junior Primary School. Othieno advises parents to visit more than one school before going for the best.

Slyvano Mwaka, a former teacher, agrees with Othieno. He warns parents not to rely on rumours regarding a school “Visit the school, walk around, see how many students are in each class and how people around behave,” Mwaka advises.

He says by the time your visit is over, you should have a clear idea whether your child would be happy in that school or not.

Grace Magara had a nasty encounter when she visited a school a friend had recommended. “I was shocked by how messy, noisy and disorganised the school was,” Magara says.

Associate professor Sue Dockett of the University of Western Sydney in Australia says even when parents do not have much choice in schools — say for financial or geographical reasons — they are still anxious to choose the right one.

Kate Walker, an education lecturer at RMIT University, Australia,notes: “The relationship between teachers, schools and parents has an impact on children’s attitudes and interest in learning.” Therefore, choose a school that has a Parent Teacher Association.

Some parents have a historical attachment to a school because someone they know studied there. If the person who studied there had a good experience, you may consider that.

For Joan Biinta, the challenge was with her first child. But she cut down the hassle deciding to prioritise the selection basing on two rules. “First I chose schools where my other children are studying from,” she reveals. The other rule is a school less than one kilometre away from home.

Patience Kamugisha, the headteacher of Entebbe Moving Faith, says parents should choose a school that nurtures a child academically, morally, socially and spiritually. “A child with no manners may fail to excel no matter their level of academic excellence,’ Kamugisha says.

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