I have just returned from a two week visit to Uganda.
During my stay there I spent a lot of time with Peter Kisirinya, Director of Isaac Newton High School, and with Moses Kamya, Director of Mustard Seed School. I was able to spend a few days in each school and talk to staff about the progress of the schools and needs for the future. Attached are detailed reports on each school:
Isaac Newton High School Visit Report February 2015
Mustard Seed Secondary School Visit Report February 2015
My visit coincided with the start of the new school year and, only a few days before, the Primary Leaving Certificate results had been published. So the schools were actively recruiting the new first-year intake. It was clear that the scholarships provided by UHST supporters were helping them to attract some of the brightest primary school leavers. Competition for scholarships was attracting students with their families to see the schools and to demonstrate their enthusiasm to become students there.
In view of the large distances that students have to travel in these rural areas, the existence of good boarding facilities is important to families. They like to know their children will be coming to a caring and a safe environment where they will have good study facilities and a range of activities to give them worthwhile things to do when they are not in lessons. On Sunday, in particular, the schools offer a range of sports, board games, including chess, music, films and opportunities for religious observance for the few who want this. Families were impressed that both schools had very high quality hostel accommodation and washing and sanitary arrangements for boys and girls. The new boys hostels were at the final painting stage so both schools were expecting a further boost in student numbers in 2015. Both schools were planning to split the Senior 1 class to create two parallel streams.
Both school sites were being spruced up for the start of term. The grass was cut, the grounds were being tidied, classrooms and hostels washed out and all furniture was being dusted down and cleaned. There was a general sense of purposefulness about both schools which are turning into self-confident institutions as they move towards becoming self-sustaining.
The former Fair View School at Mbute, which had been transferred to the ownership of Isaac Newton High School two years ago, is facing a challenge from the previous Director, Deo Ssekitooleko. The school, which had been founded as a joint venture between IHEU and UHASSO (the Uganda Humanist Association), had closed after failing two inspections while under Deo’s management. Deo found a job in Rwanda and for the past two years the school has undergone a renaissance under the competent management provided by the Isaac Newton team, led by Peter Kisirinya. However, Deo has returned and attempted to take over again and the school is currently closed while a lawyer employed by IHEU attempts to sort out the legalities. We are hoping the problem will be solved quickly so that students at Mbute will be able to resume their education as soon as possible.
Latest visit to the Uganda schools
Posted: February 11, 2015 by Steve Hurd
During my stay there I spent a lot of time with Peter Kisirinya, Director of Isaac Newton High School, and with Moses Kamya, Director of Mustard Seed School. I was able to spend a few days in each school and talk to staff about the progress of the schools and needs for the future. Attached are detailed reports on each school:
Isaac Newton High School Visit Report February 2015
Mustard Seed Secondary School Visit Report February 2015
My visit coincided with the start of the new school year and, only a few days before, the Primary Leaving Certificate results had been published. So the schools were actively recruiting the new first-year intake. It was clear that the scholarships provided by UHST supporters were helping them to attract some of the brightest primary school leavers. Competition for scholarships was attracting students with their families to see the schools and to demonstrate their enthusiasm to become students there.
In view of the large distances that students have to travel in these rural areas, the existence of good boarding facilities is important to families. They like to know their children will be coming to a caring and a safe environment where they will have good study facilities and a range of activities to give them worthwhile things to do when they are not in lessons. On Sunday, in particular, the schools offer a range of sports, board games, including chess, music, films and opportunities for religious observance for the few who want this. Families were impressed that both schools had very high quality hostel accommodation and washing and sanitary arrangements for boys and girls. The new boys hostels were at the final painting stage so both schools were expecting a further boost in student numbers in 2015. Both schools were planning to split the Senior 1 class to create two parallel streams.
Both school sites were being spruced up for the start of term. The grass was cut, the grounds were being tidied, classrooms and hostels washed out and all furniture was being dusted down and cleaned. There was a general sense of purposefulness about both schools which are turning into self-confident institutions as they move towards becoming self-sustaining.
The former Fair View School at Mbute, which had been transferred to the ownership of Isaac Newton High School two years ago, is facing a challenge from the previous Director, Deo Ssekitooleko. The school, which had been founded as a joint venture between IHEU and UHASSO (the Uganda Humanist Association), had closed after failing two inspections while under Deo’s management. Deo found a job in Rwanda and for the past two years the school has undergone a renaissance under the competent management provided by the Isaac Newton team, led by Peter Kisirinya. However, Deo has returned and attempted to take over again and the school is currently closed while a lawyer employed by IHEU attempts to sort out the legalities. We are hoping the problem will be solved quickly so that students at Mbute will be able to resume their education as soon as possible.
Category: News