How Uganda's 2020 best teachers were identified and rewarded

EDUCATION|2020 BEST TEACHERS|AWARDS

KAMPALA - The top six teachers were identified after a countrywide survey. 

Sister Theopista Namukasa, the headteacher of St Mary's Immaculate Primary School, emerged as the overall winner.

"I am excited to be the top teacher. I give glory to God and I would like to thank New Vision and all the partners for this initiative. I promise to use this award to continue inspiring others and making a difference," Namukasa said after she was declared winner in a competition that attracted 700 nominations.

The second best teacher was Ernest Kavulu of Budo Junior School, while another nun, Sister Pross Nantege, the headteacher of Kalas Girls Day and Boarding Primary School, emerged third.

In fourth position was Buluhan Mulongo of Hama Island Primary School, while Norah Anyait from Matany Primary School and Raymond Kigongo form St Joseph's SS Nkooko in Kakumiro district came fifth and sixth respectively.

The other winners are Moses Namisi of Kafuyo Primary School, Christine Adongo of Ogor Community SS, Buker Hkizumwami of Seseme Girls' SS, Peace Ruzaza of Seseme Girls' SS, Matovu Odonge of Banda Primary School, and Miriam Birakwate of Luzira Prison School.

Others join in 

The partners of the annual competition have also agreed that the winners of last year's competition, who missed the annual trip to Europe, will travel with the new team of winners of this year. This will bring the total of teachers to 12.

Their trip to Ireland was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was sweeping through the entire world.

For months, air transport was suspended in many countries and some countries had also barred travelling beyond their boundaries.

Addressing the teachers during Monday's (November 30, 2020) event, the Ireland ambassador to Uganda, William Carlos, pledged more support to Teachers Making a Difference competition. 

He urged educationists to continue being innovative to improve their communities and the sector.

"This is an innovative initiative that we will continue to nurture going forward. We are happy because of the commitment you are showing as teachers, even during these hard times of COVID-19," Carlos said.

While urging the Government to invest in young people through supporting education programmes, the envoy also hailed Vision Group's efforts to run the programme amid the hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It is important for the Government to invest in its young people. They are the backbone of society," Carlos said.

The assistant commissioner of TIET, Jonathan Kamwana, who represented education ministry permanent secretary Alex Kakoza, urged Ugandans to learn to appreciate teachers for their immense job.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, we started home learning using printed materials, radios and TVs, but we found out that something was missing, especially assessment which can best be done by a teacher. The role of a teacher is important and in whatever media you use you can't leave a teacher," Kamwana said.

He asked the winners to remain standing out and continue supporting the children.

Dignitaries speak out

Robert Kabushenga, the Vision Group chief executive officer, urged teachers to constantly innovate and plant the "seeds of transformation." 

He appreciated the teachers for remaining on course during the COVID-19 pandemic and coming up with various innovations to ensure children continue learning.

"I think next year we should have an award for the most innovative teacher during COVID-19 period. There have been so many innovations which teachers have employed to create a difference," Kabushenga said.

Others present at the event included Trócaire Uganda country director Ian Dolan and Vision Group Editor-in-Chief Barbara Kaija.

The former director of basic and secondary education, Dr Yusuf Nsubuga, who was part of the jury for the competition, also commended the winners for being innovative.

"We live in a world of scarcity; for people to make a difference they must be innovative. As you have seen, many have been able to increase enrolment in challenging situations. From nothing, they have come up with great ideas such as opening up gardens and school feeding," Nsubuga said.

He said the winners also proved that they had community engagement programmes which are key in providing education and managing schools.

The director and founder of Victorious Education Services, Dr Barbara Ofwono, said the winners are passionate about children and the community.

"It is not about teaching but empowering life to be useful, fighting for girls not to get pregnant and helping them get back to school. They are not doing this to impress anyone but to improve lives," Ofwono said.

She highlighted examples of some of the winners who decided to leave their comfortable in towns to go and teach in villages.

"There is a special story from Luzira where one teacher has committed her life to transform lives of the inmates despite getting offers for better jobs. She is passionate," Ofwono said.

She, however, called for more efforts towards empowering the boy child, who seems to be neglected and all focus is on the girl child.

"No one is specifically empowering the boy child. If we do not empower the boy child, we are not solving any problem. Let us empower all children for a better world," Ofwono said.

The Teachers Making a Difference competition is part of the Vision Group's Ugandans Making a Difference initiative launched in 2005.

The initiative recognises the most creative and innovative teachers working in difficult environments.

They mobilise their communities to send and keep their children in school, are creative in using limited resources to deliver quality education, pay attention to co-curricular and vocational studies.