Kalokwera gives new face to Okinga after LRA war

EDUCATION |

New Vision profiles some of Uganda's teachers who are making a difference at their work stations, under the Teachers Making a Difference project. The 12 most innovative teachers will share a cash prize of sh18m and the six most outstanding will go for a week-long, all-expenses-paid study tour to Ireland, courtesy of New Vision, the Irish Embassy in Uganda, Trocaire and Simba Travelcare, one of Uganda's leading tour and travel management companies.

In our profiles for the 2020 competition, Today, we bring you the profile Geoffrey Kalokwera, the former headteacher of Okinga Primary School in Pader district

Pupils at Okinga Primary School in Acholibur sub-county, Pader district, show no hesitation sitting on the floor; they are struggling to take notes from their laps.

Only about 250 pupils in upper primary classes of the 1,034 total school population have desks.

The number of pupils in this school has for the last four years been increasing, despite the lack of infrastructure, owing to the effort of the headteacher, Geoffrey Kalokwera.  Kalokwera was posted to the school in 2008, and mid this year was transferred to another school.

He improved its academic performance, making it one of the best in the sub-county. He increased the number of pupils passing in the first and second divisions.

Parents pull factor

Just like many other schools in the Acholi sub-region that were affected by the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) war, Okinga is no exception. The school was transferred to its current location in Acholibur trading centre nine years ago.

When he was posted to this school, Kalokwera's first task was to move it back to its original site, which was 3km away. He achieved this in his first year. 

Gradually, the enrolment of pupils has increased from 700 by 2014 to the current 1,034 pupils.

Apio Jessica, a parent at the school, says this is the highest number of students the school has ever recorded.

"The headteacher has done well and that is why the number is growing," she says.

At the time Kalokwera was posted there, Okinga Primary School had only five teachers. He convinced parents that due to the increasing number of pupils, there was a need for more teachers, even when they were not on the payroll. 

Through the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), the idea was adopted and four teachers were recruited. Later on, the district added four more teachers.

Kalokwera, who was still serving as caretaker headteacher till his transfer this year to Oringa Primary School, kept Okinga Primary School's academic performance at a steady rise.

In 2013, of the 26 candidates who sat Primary Leaving Examinations, three passed in Division One, 14 in Division Two, and four in Division Three; and the rest in Division Four.

In 2014, three candidates passed Division One, 27 in Division Two and 11 in Division Three; of the total 43 candidates.

Excelling in athletics

Relatedly, co-curricular activities have also improved, with the school contributing the highest number of participants for the sub-county team at the district level in the athletics competition, almost every year.

The headteacher loves and is committed to developing sports, even when it means using his own money to set up training grounds and buying equipment.

Kalokwera also says he had planned to acquire a five-acre piece of land to get pupils involved in farming; to help the school provide lunch.

"The process of acquiring the land had started, but it is up to the new headteacher to take on the mantle," he says.

Parents' contribution

Joseph Odong Olak, the chairperson of the school management committee, says every academic year, parents contribute sh10,000 per child as PTA, which has helped bridge the gap when money from the central government delays.

With the parents' contribution, the school can pay the six teachers a total of sh1.2m salary monthly, but also buy other  requirements like chalk and stationery without waiting for capitation grants. The rest of the teachers are on the government payroll.

Patrick Lam, the chairperson of the finance committee of PTA, says through close monitoring of all the collected funds, they provide accountability which is presented to the school management committee and annual general meeting.

To ensure that funds areclosely monitored, a finance committee was established, a different account for the parents' contribution opened and also during the payment of teachers, the committee representatives are always around.

"We have laid down a system whereby parents are involved in almost all the school activities to ensure there is transparency," Lam explains.  The parents are invited to meetings occasionally and they monitor the usage of the funds they contribute to support the school.

Pupil engagement

At Okinga, girls and boys are sometimes counselled jointly, but due to unique issues that girls have, separate counselling sessions are held twice a month.

When the teachers responsible fail to handle a particular matter, it is forwarded to the headteacher.

Francis Olwoch, the Pader district education officer, says despite the school having challenges of few desks, the its track record in academic performance has attracted more parents to this school.

"The issue of desks is not a challenge to Okinga alone. Some other schools are worse off. At the moment is that the Government is concentrating on constructing secondary schools in sub-counties and, therefore, there is less funding for furniture," Olwoch says.

 Fact file

• Kalokwera was born in Lalur Lake Oding village, Lapyem parish Laugiti sub-county in 1975 to Saverino Oneka and Oyella

• Went to Lacekocot Primary School

• Joined O'level at Atanga Secondary School

• In 1998, went to Kitgum Core PTC and attained a grade III certificate

• In 2001, he was recruited by the Government and posted to Laguti Primary School as a teacher

• In 2003, he was later transferred to Wiyakado Primary School

• In 2008, he was deployed as acting headteacher in Okinga from 2008

• Transferred to Oringa Primary School in 2020 as a headteacher

• Appointed as Senior Education Assistant by the district

• Plans to enrol for a diploma this year