TEACHERS MOVE TO INSPIRE PUPILS IN THE RWENZORI REGION PRIOR TO THE 2013 PLE

During the school visits by EPP team of RWECO to meet and discuss issues pertaining education with the pupils in different schools (15 schools) that was organized by RWECO, Mrs. Kulthum Moshi  the District Ass. Inspector of schools emphasized that the girl child are the world of tomorrow and that they should guard their lives so well to become people of great influence in the future. 

Mrs. Kulthum Mosh District Ass. Inspector of schools talking to pupils of Kisinga P/School

During these school visits, RWECO career guided the pupils and showed them how important it is to study with a clear dream of what they want to be in future because this would shape their reading towards working hard for their dreams. However, most importantly is that these pupils should know the reasons why they are at school as well as conceptualize the importance of education like acquiring knowledge, preparing for employment, creating friendship, shaping behaviors, creates professionals and therefore while at school, children should know why they are at school and the importance of this education they are trying to get from the school. 

Teacher Kabarangira guiding pupils of Katwe P/S on how important education is and encouraged them to always have a target in future.

However, there was a serious issue that was brought on board why girl child fail science subjects. This brought up arguments throughout the schools visited between the pupils themselves and teachers thought the facilitators guided these arguments. Some reasons that were given included but were not limited to being academically weak, lack of concentration in class, shying away from contributing in and out from class, do a lot of house chores, others have no interest in education, are sexually active at the tender age, adolescence affects girl child more than boy child, absenteeism, fallacy of feminine, sexual harassment (environment), lack of female role models among other.

Some pupils displaying on papers what they want to be in future

 The pupils were then taken through choosing a career. The team clearly showed them how important it is to choose a career and the important factors to follow in choosing a career that included doing what they can do best, joining institutions that offer the desired courses and well equipped with man power, flashbacking home the availability of funds to push you in realization of your career, having self-help skills, sticking to your career choices and so many others. 

Teachers also were challenged to be role models of their children and should not sexually harass these children because they are their own

The school management was challenged to always career guide the pupils and that the first role models are the teachers at the school so their behaviors and character should attract the pupils themselves and also invite other important people in the community in all field to talk out their stories of how they started and what they went through to be what they are. As these people are the role models of such pupils, they tend to admire and work to be like their role model.

Prepared By

Gilbert Masereka

RWECO

RIC-NET NEWS: I WISH THESE INNOVATIONS HAD COME EARLIER

RIC-NET NEWS: I WISH THESE INNOVATIONS HAD COME EARLIER: Tutors who participated in the training of integration ICT in teaching have applauded the innovation as enriching. This was revealed at...

“AS MPS we are committed to do work but fundraising in churches have made us poor” MP Kasese municipality

In a meeting organized by RWECO with the Member of Parliament for Kasese Municipality Hon James Mbahimba on how RWECO can influence the Uganda Wildlife Act amendment and present the monitoring findings to the relevant committees of the 9^th Parliament was held at RWECO Board Room, Kasese Municipality.

Hon. James Mbahimba (2nd left) and RWECO staff from RIC-NET, KALI, GOODHOPE and RWECO-CU

Hon. James Mbahimba apologized for not participating in RWECO activities as he was either not informed or misinformed. He thanked RWECO and its members Good Hope, KALI and RICNET for their efforts in ensuring effective delivery and urged them to sensitize the communities to understand the role of the MPS and help them to fulfill their roles other than as the spend most of time fundraising and gave an example that Kasese municipality alone has 219 churches, 42 secondary schools, more than 50 bars, bodabodas and women group. If each church hold a fundraising and he has to contribute how much money will this amount to. To show that these groups are intended to milk politicians each politician is called alone not excluding the opponent.  When asked about non participation in some activities he emphasized sometimes the organizers do not follow protocol for example an event where the chairperson LC3 is the chief guest and the MP is just a guest.

Hon James Mbahimba (in black suit) emphasizing on the roles of Members of Parliament

He emphasized that members of parliament are not delegates but representatives so people need to trust them because they represent their interests.

Hon James Mbahimba emphasized that a Member of Parliament has 3 major roles to play and these are

1.       Appropriation and these include budgeting and allocation of money.

2.       Make laws/ACTs and review

3.       Representation in other words no one should know the constituency more than the Member of Parliament.

The major concern Member of Parliament is how to get money in Kasese municipality and his focus is increasing Agriculture production through rehabilitation of Mubuku irrigation scheme which is done and increased employment opportunities through the revival of Kilembe mines which commenced on 1^st October and will be 3500 people on 25 years contract which is a renewable contract. He confirmed that information is power that is why he struggled to ensure that the people of Kasese municipality have access to UBC and NTV television network.

When asked what he has done for kasese since he joined the parliament, he told the meeting that he has advocated for the firefighting equipment for kasese municipality, advocated for 70  million for the Adventist church to procure a band and a radio system, 70 million to Moslems to start a school for basic education,  50 million for mosque  construction, 25 million for the youth revolving fund, 3billion and 600 for construction of 9 classroom blocks, a laboratory and a library at Kasese Secondary School. In terms of roads the Member of Parliament stressed that Kasese district is remaining with two major roads to tarmac which the road connecting to Ibanda and the road connecting to Katwe Kabatooro Town council. The question is if all these resources exist in the community then why is there poor service delivery? Why don’t we mainstream our management to ensure effective service delivery?

Hon. James Mbahimba (in black suit) was clear on what he had done during his time in Parliament

 He emphasized that Kasese district has 30 schools compared to Napak district in northern which has three secondary schools.Kisinga sub county has 3 secondary schools alone which cannot be compared to NAPAK district. The tax payers contribute 82% to the government budget and the rest is donor money and the employees in public service are 700,000 and on average if every employee earns Ugx. 500,000 per month a total Ugx3.5 trillion would be spent on salary alone.  How will the balance cater for the remaining population? He decried the challenge of   poor accountability because when money is swindled the same item will continue to be budgeted for.  He exclaimed that Kasese gets Ugx. 2billion shillings for NAADS per year but there are no visible results to show value for money yet Kasese District with support from the B.T.C constructed a mini-irrigation scheme in Muhokya sub-county at Ugx. 180 millions which has made a change in people's lives as they now have crops all year yet over 70% of the NAADS expenditure goes to administration and only 30% is for the inputs.

Hon James Mbahimba

 As part of the action plan, Hon. James Mbahimba agreed to mobilize fellow MPs to participate in the live debates organized by RWECO members in Kasese as well as support RWECO in its petition to parliament on the natural resource policy. The meeting was also attended by RWECO members from KALI, RICNET and Good hope.

Written by

Sheila and Gilbert
RWECO

TEACHING MUST BE LEARNER CENTERED

Mr. Robinson Nsumba-Lyazi, Commissioner Private Schools/Institution MoES, while addressing Teachers of English at St. Leos College, Kyegobe, Fort Portal Municipality, 30th Sept. 2013

The Commissioner for Private Schools and Institutions Mr. Robinson  Nsumba-Lyazi  challenged teachers of English in the Rwenzori Region to make teaching learner centered if they must match the global trends. Mr. Robinson was officiating at the retooling of teachers of English at St. Leos College Kyegobe, Fort Portal Municipality on Monday 30th Sept. 2013. The Commissioner was also embraced by the response of the teachers of English in application of ICT Tools in the teaching of English after Computers for Schools and RWECO had supported the 4 Secondary Schools with Computers, projects, screen to equip the English Laboratories. " As Ministry we constrained in meeting all the demands of equipping our Schools, but we thank the development partners for supplementing the government efforts, I will invite you to come and present to the Ministry of Education technical staff on how you use ICT in the teaching of English"

Mr. Robinson Nsumba-Lyazi, Commissioner Private Schools/Institution MoES, while addressing Teachers of English at St. Leos College, Kyegobe, Fort Portal Municipality, 30th Sept. 2013

At the same function, Ms.Susan, the  Fort Portal Municipality Inspector of Schools also wondered why teaching of English had not been included in the MoES project of ICT. Ms. Susan was concerned about the way teachers of English had not focused on being innovated and creative by integrating ICT in their lessons.

The teachers also presented their lessons during the meeting to  selected students on how to apply ICT Tools in the teaching of English lessons.

Ms. Susan, District Inspector of Schools, Fort Portal Municipality, inspiring teachers of English at St. Leos College, Kyegobe.

  RWECO and CfSU are grateful the schools and MoES for the support given to the teaching of English project funded by Connect for Change and ICCO Cooperation. As the teachers mentioned, English should be considered as a science by the MoES since it was the must piece in the learning of our pupils. At the same meeting, the Head Teacher St. Leos College Kyegobe, reiterated the Schools mission of educating the whole "child"

In attendance from CfSU was Mr. Joel Kamba and Ms. Lydia Kamba while RWECO was represented by Mr. Jimmy Odyek.

Compiled by

Jimmy Odyek
RWECO