Kunihira inspired change at Ibanda's Nyabuhikye SS

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 of Gladys Kunihira, the headteacher of Nyabuhikye Senior Secondary School in Ibanda district .

When Gladys Kunihira arrived at Nyabuhikye Senior Secondary School in Ibanda municipality, Ibanda district as the new headteacher in January 2016, the student numbers were just over 300.

The school was infamous for indiscipline and culture of staging strikes every term.

The school had lost the goodwill of the community, who showed their displeasure by taking their children elsewhere. This negatively affected its enrolment, says Vincent Kafureeka, the chairperson of the school's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA).

However, Nyabuhikye SSS is currently among the top-performing universal secondary education (USE) schools in Ibanda and its students are the darlings of the community.  

And just over four years later, the enrolment has more than doubled from 340 to 850 learners. Faustine Katushabe, the director of studies at this school, says academic performance has also improved from two students in Division One four years ago, to 18 in last year's Uganda National Examinations Board examinations. 

At A'level, the best student had 13 points in 2016, but the best performer scored 16 points last year. 

Taming indiscipline 

Kunihira explains that when she was posted to the school, she realised that they would not achieve much with the high level of indiscipline. 

"Together with staff members and the support of the board and PTA, we embarked on building a culture of discipline and responsibility among learners," she says. 

Kunihira adds that she emphasised co-curricular activities to keep students focused. 

"I did some homework about strikes at this school before I reported for duty. 

I realised that the strikes were symptomatic of other problems," Kunihira explains.

She says no strike has occurred since she joined the school, thanks to efforts instituted to tame indiscipline.

Kunihira says: "I made sure the students were feeding well; teachers were in class and above all, I started inculcating the love for God and prayer in students."

She has also worked with the neighbouring community to support the school in fighting indiscipline, especially students that escape from school.

"I made it a point to befriend community members and now they report to us any transgressors," Kunihira says.  "We also organise thanksgiving events for the Catholics and Anglican communities." 

Dedicated

Kafureeka says Kunihira has been co-operative and that she is good at managing finances. 

"She is innovative, dedicated to her work, and keen on success," he says.

Kafureeka adds that Kunihira plans well and always implements the resolutions of the board and the PTA successfully. 

"This is because of her good working relationship with all the other stakeholders, including staff and students," he says.

Kafureeka says Kunihira's approach built the morale of staff and students and hence, helped uplift the school to its current admirable academic standard.

Infrastructure

The PTA plans to construct a three-storeyed girls' hostel. However, the project was affected by COVID-19 as 

a fundraiser planned for April could not happen due to restrictions on social gatherings imposed by the Government in March 2020 to stem the spread of the virus. 

Construction of the hostel, projected to cost sh800m, has already started with the foundation completed. Kunihira says it is expected to be completed in 10 years. 

The renovation of old buildings cost sh350m.

The school also has two water tanks of 10,000-litre capacity each. This has promoted sanitation and hygiene as well as helped save on utility bills by harvesting rainwater.

The Government also built 16 classrooms and science laboratories under the World Bank UPPET/APL I project.

Kafureeka says the headteacher worked with the board to install solar power to serve all classrooms and also bought a standby generator.

He explained that the parents are also building a residential house for the headteacher, with Kunihira's guidance.

Skilling students

Besides academics, the students are trained in life and practical skills. Kunihira says the move is aimed at widening the learners' career choices, equip them with market-relevant skills, and sharpen their entrepreneurial minds.

The school is working with EDUCATE, a non-profit organisation which promotes skills development among the youth in the country.

The students learn pottery, making liquid soap and candles, knitting and weaving, as well as making shoe polish, jelly, cakes and mats. 

Kunihira says the students are also trained in leadership skills, entrepreneurship, and commercial vegetable growing.

The Patriotism Club is also in charge of the beautification of the school. 

Supporting the needy 

Nyabuhikye SSS has over 60 children from poor families on full school bursary.

"Students with special needs such as those with disabilities and children living with HIV or suffering from sickle cells are provided special diet — two eggs per week, vegetables and a cup of milk every day," Kunihira says.

"We work with Ibanda Hospital Kagongo and Ruhoko Health Centre IV to support their medication," she adds.

Who is kunihira? 

• Born in 1974

• Did primary education at Bunena Primary School 

• Went to Kibubura Girls' SSS Ibanda 

• Joined Makerere University in 1997

• Teacher at Kibubura Girls' 2000-2011

• Became deputy headteacher at Rwenkobwa SSS in 2011 to 2013

• Joined Rwemikoma Seed School in 2013

• Posted as headteacher at Nyabuhikye SSS in January 2016 to date