On
Thursday 24th October, 2013; KALI supported Education conference for
Ihandiro Sub County. It was held at kibirigha Church of Uganda in Ihandiro Sub
county. the conference was attended by Mr. Elisha Muliwabyo former district inspector of schools,Isemuzora current district inspector of schools, District councilors, GS0, all headteachers of secondary and primary schools in Ihandiro,students representatives among others.
BACKGROUND:
Ihandiro
Sub County has been the fountain of Education in Kasese District and Bwera zone
in particular where persons of high profile including academicians,
politicians, businessmen and professionals hail from.
But
this glory has been distorted by continued poor performance in academic since
the 1990s. in realization of this problem, the Sub
County in partnership with KALI
organized an Education Conference on 28th Jan, 2010 where
stakeholders identified problems that
were affecting academic
performance in the Sub
County.
However,
there has been an appreciation that there has been some registered improvement
in some aspects that were identified.
Hence
the Sub County and still in partnership with KALI organized yet another Education Conference on Thursday 24th
October, 2013 particularly to review the progress so for made since the
last conference of 2010.
Participants during education conference
The
theme of the conference was TACKLING AND ENHANCING EDUCATION IN IHANDIRO SUB
COUNTY as a major focus of development.
The
objectives of the Education conference of 24/10/2013 were:
-
To raise more
awareness on importance of Education.
-
To re-emphasis
the different roles and responsibilities of stakeholders.
-
To share
information on the status of Education in the Sub County.
-
To identify
activities and critical requirements for uplifting Education standards and
performance in the Sub
County.
-
To discus and
therefore come up with ideas, solutions and way forward to support the
implementation of the action points raised to improve the education standards
and academic performance in the Sub County.
The
participants at the Education conference included a representative of the
District chairperson Hon Nyawathekwa James, District Councilor for Ihandiro, a
representative of the DEO Mr. Baluku Costa, assistant DEO, Headteachers, SMC
and PTAs chairpersons, Senior Women Teachers, Senior Male Teachers, student
leaders, Obusinga Bwa Rwenzururu cultural leaders and native Chiefs, Community
Monitors, Role models,Go Back to School Taskforce Committee, LCs, religious
leaders, opinion leaders, representative of the Business Community, Sub County
staff and Councilors, NGOs / CBOs.
KALI staff Mr. Muhesi Nicholas,presenting during the conference.
KALI,
the co-sponsor of the Education Conference was represented by Mr. Muhesi
Nicholas the Programs Officer-Enhancing Civic competence in Social
Accountability and Mr. Bwambale Geoffrey, the Programs Officer-School Water,
Sanitation and Hygiene-WASH.
The
lead facilitator at the Education Conference was Mr. Muliwabyo Elisha,
Associate Assessor and former Inspector of Schools -Kasese District. The
co-facilitators were Mr. Kule Josephat Mutahunga-Sub County Chief and Mr.
Baluku Phinehas ,Sub County Chairperson.
The
outputs of the Education conference were:
-
The Different
roles and responsibilities of stakeholders clarified.
-
Role models
identified.
-
Community members
involvement in Education appreciated.
-
Policy on UPE and
USE understood.
WAY FORWARD
During
the Education Conference, the stakeholders came up with the following
recommendations and action points as a way forward to improve academic in the Sub County.
|
NO
|
ACTIVITY
|
TIMEFRAME
|
RESPONSIBLE PERSON
|
|
1.
|
Giving
Homework, regular
tests and revision of past
papers.
|
1st
Term 2014
|
Zone
leaders
Headteachers
Dr.
Chrispus Kiyonga, MP and Minister of Defence.
|
|
2.
|
Midday
meals to all Schools
Children and teachers.
|
|
Sub
County Chief,
C/person LC III
Headteachers
|
|
3.
|
Inter
School academic
Competition; debates, tests and exams
competitions
|
|
Zonal
leader
Headteacher
Director
of studies
|
|
4.
|
Routine
supervision,
inspection of schools and
Monitoring.
|
|
Sub
County Chief
Zonal
Assessors
|
|
5.
|
Joint
planning between the Sub
County and Schools
|
|
Sub
County Chief
LC
III Chairperson
|
|
6.
|
Continuous
Education
Sensitization meetings for
Parents and other stakeholders.
|
|
Sub
County Chief
Headteachers
LC
III Chairperson, KALI
|
|
7.
|
Arrangement
for Education
Conferences.
|
|
SUB
County Chief
LC
III Chairperson
Headteachers,
KALI
|
|
8.
|
Guidance
and Counseling
|
|
SWTs,
SMTs, S/C/C,
LC
III Chairperson, HTRS
|
|
9.
|
Teachers
commitment and
Education research.
|
|
Headteachers,
Sub County
Chief
|
|
10.
|
Intensive
practice of Cluster
Parent Groups.
|
|
Headteachers,
Sub County Chief, New Eden Christian
|
|
11.
|
Induction
trainings for other
Government structures e.g
SMCs, PTAs, Prefects bodies, Farmers Forum,
HUMCs,
WUCs ,TPC, VHTs, PDCs, LCs.
|
|
Sub
County Chief
LC
III Chairperson,
KALI
|
|
12.
|
Learning
tours for pupils,
Teachers and parents.
|
|
Headteacher
|
AREAS THAT NEEDED URGENT ACTION:
·
Conduct Education
Conferences to target and sensitize parents
from those parishes that are highly affected by low academic performance. Those
Parishes were identified as Buhatiro Parish and Bubotyo Parish-to break the
mental barriers that affect Education in those areas.
·
That the Farmers
Forum needed training on their duties so as to be equipped in areas of
identification of enterprises and procurement methods and how to boost food
security that is a pre-requisite for midday meals at schools to boost academic
performance.
·
That Dr. Kiyonga,
the Minister of Defense continues to use his influence to lobby for Government
Grant Aiding of Ihandiro Vocational Secondary School.
Compiled
by;
Bwambale
Geoffrey
Programme
Officer-KALI
