Since summer 2007 the Trustees have received four reports on the progress of the Education Uganda project from our co-ordinator, Revd. Asa Kiriaghe. He has made regular and very well appreciated visits to the schools, and his influence in the development is central and crucial to the success of the project. His reports have been detailed and have explained the work and attitudes of the teachers and children in the four model schools. These schools have each written a detailed review letter. From these reports and letters, the following assessment has been made. The four model schools are realising their dream as project initiators and good teacher support is benefitting pupils. The use of slates has become an important priority in the vast majority of teachers’ working. In the main, they are positive and active in the use of slates, particularly in classes P1 to P4. The use of slates has increased the interest of children in learning. Their motivation and participation in learning has increased and boredom has reduced. Increased attention, levels of concentration, memory gains and faster speeds of working and learning have all been noticed. It is improving their critical thinking and creating greater self-confidence. There is evidence that attendance has improved, particularly in clases P1 and P2. It has enabled children to become more co-operative in learning, developing peer teaching , yet engendering some competitive attitudes. Children have been encouraged to participate directly in their learning and are showing greater independence. There is an increase in child-centred learning. Both learners and teachers have improved their leadership skills. Children have enjoyed taking more responsibility, for example, in being monitors.

Education Uganda was formed by a group of Hampshire education professionals to improve primary education in Uganda by the use of individual boards (known in Uganda as SLATES); a technique that has been used so effectively to raise standards in English primary schools. An initial trial project was carried out successfully in four schools and at a teachers’ training college in the Kasese district of South West Uganda in July and August 2007.

PROJECT PROGRESS

WHO WE ARE

EDUCATION UGANDA NEWS

MARCH 2008 ISSUE 2

A typical class

Slates in use

GLOBAL LINKS WITH SOUTH RWENZORI

MERIDIAN TV COVERAGE OF EDUCATION UGANDA

EDUCATION UGANDA NEWS Page 2

Trainee teachers learn to use Slates

Three teachers from the original Education Uganda team who went to South Rwenzori in summer 2007 have taken the additional initiative of twinning their Hampshire primary schools with the schools they visited and worked in. Chris Lloyd from Wolverdene School, Marilyn James from Calmore Infants, and Hilary Powell from Shakespeare Junior respectively have twinned with Ibanda, Kagando and Kitalikibi schools. They have been joined by Kings Somborne Primary which has twinned with Kamaiba school, with which it has had a long standing association. This initiative has been made possible by a generous grant from the Department For International Development Global Schools Partnership programme. The programme is delivered by a consortium of the British Council, Cambridge Education Foundation, UK One World Linking Association (UKOWLA) and Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO). Representatives from all four schools will be travelling to Uganda this July to cement the links already formed, to extend their school’s understanding of the global curriculum, and of course to reinforce the use of slates and take more ideas for their application as a learning tool. The Hampshire schools will be hosting visiting teachers from the South Rwenzori schools. Their pupils will as a result learn a great deal about the differences and similarities between their lives and those of Ugandan primary pupils in a rural area. The twinned teachers will spend about three weeks together, in both locations, and during that time they will be drafting a partnership agreement between their schools which will deliver an exciting shared curriculum to be developed over the next three years. Although the core aim of the Global Schools Partnership is not to perpetuate stereotypes of ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’, inevitably there will be a discussion of how the relatively wealthy Hampshire schools can offer practical aid to their partners in South Rwenzori. The subject of additional chalk for the slates will be an urgent priority!

A short documentary comparing and contrasting the use of slates in South Rwenzori with the use of whiteboards in England was broadcast on Meridian News in February. This short documentary used film footage taken during the project last year and set it alongside film of primary pupils in English schools to show both the similarities in the use of this simple learning aid, and the differences between the classrooms where it is being used. The contrasts of which the primary pupils were clearly aware were:

· The enormous number of pupils in South Rwenzori classrooms · The life chances of pupils in Uganda compared with those in England · The lack of electricity and other basic amenities in the South Rwenzori

schools. Education Uganda was really grateful for this exposure on a local television channel, and we are hopeful that the exchange of teachers in the summer will also be filmed and publicised in the same way.

Teachers have learnt that careful management of slates helps improve class control and discipline. It is helping with the assessment and evaluation of children’s work, and is saving time in this regard. It is easy for the children to self-correct. Teachers have been giving attention to individual differences identifying the more and less able with greater ease. Handwriting skills, spelling and general academic skills have been seen to improve.Above all, there has been greater enjoyment in learning with interest and fun for both teachers and children. There has been an increased awareness to conserve chalk and slates and not to waste materials. There may have been some small savings on exercise books, pens & pencils. Schools are seeing themselves as resource centres in the use of slates for learning.

The Management Team meet Rev. Julian Williams, Trustee

The Project now needs to expand steadily to other schools. However,more refreshment courses are required and the training manual completed by Bwera Training College. Six more schools will be brought into training and supervision during Spring 2008, enlarging the focus group to ten. By the end of 2008, it is hoped that 30 schools who were involved in the initial training will become focus schools. By the end of 2009 this should have grown to 90 schools and by summer 2011 all 234 primary schools in Kasese District, educating around 200000 children, should be engaged in the effective use of slates led by the Project. It is hoped that Kasese District will become lead example for Uganda as a whole.

Our Board of Trustees has been strengthened by the appoinment of two additional trustees. They are : Dr.Michael Yates. Head of Dept, Faculty of Education, Winchester University. Mick is working to build a link between the University and Bwera Teacher’s College in Kasese District. Mark Torokwa, Economic Development Officer with Hampshire County Council. Mark is a Ugandan by birth. Patron We are delighted that The Rt.Revd.Michael Scott-Joynt, Lord Bishop of Winchester has willingly and generously agreed to become our Patron. The Diocese of Winchester has long been involved with supporting projects in Uganda, and in particular with the South Rwenzori Diocese. Education Uganda’s links with these Diocesan projects are mutually supportive and highly beneficial to the people in this part of Uganda.

ADDITIONAL TRUSTEES AND PATRON APPOINTED

FUTURE PLANS

ISSUE 2 Page 3

Revd Asa Masareka Kiriaghe, Project

Coordinator at Bwera College

Emmanuel Maate District Schools

Coordinator

On the 12 February, Trustee, John Wilkinson, was granted an audience with the Ugandan High Commissioner, Her Excellency, Joan K N Rwabyomere. The meeting also included her PA, the Consular Official responsible for visas and education, and the Consular Solicitor. The High Commissioner was delighted by the progress of our work in Uganda, particularly as she knows the Kasese District well. She promised to try and gain help in Uganda for resources to support our important programme. She is also going to try and arrange meetings for us with the Education Minister in Uganda. As a champion of women’s rights in Uganda, the High Commissioner was delighted that most of the teachers visiting Hampshire in July from Uganda will be women. The High Commissioner has asked to meet with the teachers involved in our Global School Partnership programme. Winchester University has kindly agreed to host a reception for the teachers, officials, Trustees and associates on Friday 11 July 2008 at the University.

UGANDAN HIGH COMMISSIONER SUPPORTS EDUCATION UGANDA

Your financial support is needed if this exciting programme to improve primary education in Uganda is to continue and expand. £50 provides 40 slates £60 provides training for a group of 6 schools £70 provides chalk for a school for one year £250 provides funding for the Ugandan project staff for a month Please help by completing the enclosed Action Form and sending your donation or Standing Order to Education Uganda

HOW YOU CAN HELP THE WORK OF EDUCATION UGANDA

The trustees of Education Uganda are :

Chris Lloyd, Headteacher, Wolverdene School, Andover, Hampshire

John Wilkinson OBE, Retired Asst. Director of Education for Hampshire County Council

Alan Josling, FCCA, Treasurer

Dr Mick Yates, Winchester University

Mark Torokwa, Hampshire County Council

Education Uganda is a registered charity

number 1121842

Education Uganda is supported by :

Hampshire County Council

Diocese of Winchester

The Zoe Carss Education Trust

and other organisations and individuals

Wolverdene School 22 Love Lane Andover Hampshire SP10 2AF Phone: 01264 362350 Fax: 01264 396600 Email: chris.lloyd@wolverdene.hants.sch.uk

Improving Primary Education in Uganda

Website www.

educationuganda.org.uk

E d u c a t i o n U g a n d a