ACT NOW OR NEVER !!!

 A team of 15 primary head teachers sitting on 20th April 2012 at Virina Gardens in Kasese Municipality  committed themselves to end the poor performance in the district. That was during a heated round table meeting  that was organised by Rwenzori Consortium for Civic Competence (RWECO) in partnership with Kasese district Local Government, department of Education. The chief guest at the function was the Kasese district Education Officer Mr. George Mainja, who in giving his remarks quoted the 3^rd President of America  Thomas Jefferson  who said  “ in matters of principle stand like a rock but in matters of test swim with the current’’

 

 

Mr. George Mainja, DEO-Kasese launching the EPP
 project in Kasese on 20^th April, 2012 at Virina Gardens,
Kasese Municipality. Recieiving the Education Act is the headteacher Mulongithi Primary school, Ms. Businge Mary Provia

The DEO reiterated the district commitment in improving English literacy in school. He noted that both the political and technical wing in the district had taken note of the concerns raised by RWECO in their concept paper that was presented to his office. He however, challenged the head teachers to take serious the efforts of the partners who come to work with them. The DEO was concerned about the use of English in co-curricular activities and that debate in most schools had slowly died out. He applauded RWECO for investing in documentation referring to the documentary of children’s debate during the International Women’s week events.

On their part, the 15 headteachers, after singing  the teachers anthem vowed to fight the poor performance in English  “ we shall do our best since the Non Governmental Organisation working in Kasese have also realised that Education is a key aspect of development, it was indeed our cry that one day we shall append our signatures to welcome these development partners. As a senior head teacher, i will dedicate my efforts towards improving communication skills in  Kasese at all levels” Mr. Pascal Kilolo, Head teacher, Katiri Primary School   

Leading the discussion on the possible causes of low illiteracy levels in the district, the Education Officer, Kasese Municipality Mr. Monday Bwambale summarised the causes as  in the following categories:

Knowledge gap , low  reading culture amongst the community (sic) parents , inadequacy practice of English language by the pupils and teachers  thus transferring the burden to the pupils, dependency on buying exams rather than teachers setting their own exams based on the curriculum, poor skills in  interpreting the English curriculum, lack  of creativity and innovation to improve on the teaching-learning process.

The head teachers immediately resolved  the following Action points

• Separation of lower classes from upper classes during debate periods ;
• Refresher courses for teachers of English that are school based;
• Use of resource persons like retired teacher and coordinating centre tutors to compliment the already;
• Competent,  experienced and skilled teachers to take up lower  classes;
• Strengthen our debate clubs in schools through writing articles;
• Effective supervision at school level;
• Generating of good motions like on agriculture, gender issues , environment and HIV/AIDS related issues;
• Mobilise and sensitise parents about reading materials at household level;
• Peer to peer supervision by teachers and pupils;                                                                            
• Strengthen English departmental meetings through availing local resources;
• Spirit of ownership and shared responsibility for which a schedule of PTA meetings was agreed upon  whereby headteachers shall rotate and attend meetings of neighbouring schools to give a voice of solidarity as espoused in the Teachers Anthem;
• Need for citizen education watch was given greater importance.          

By Patrick  Bwambale -EPP FOCAL  PERSON [RWECO]
and   Margret Kidima  (GHFRD)-20th April 2012