Katumba Humanist Primary School has featured before on local radio programmes, but last week they went one step further. Development FM, which transmits in Western Uganda and Eastern Congo, devoted a half-hour talk show to highlight the school’s achievements. The school has brought hope to this forgotten community in the Ruwenzori foothills alongside the Congo border. Many local parents, including the Development FM reporter, have been keen to get their children into this inclusive, secular school.
Initial Presentation
Irumba Juma Siriwayo, the school’s Director, took the opportunity to thank their development partners, Uganda Humanist Schools Trust, Humanist Aid, Sweden and the Ethical Society of St Louis and Scope Uganda. The whole community has been inspired. Since 2019 the following impressive buildings have been completed:
3 nursery and 8 infant and primary classrooms.
A cook house with efficient, externally vented wood burning stoves.
Vented toilet blocks for children and staff.
Staff rooms, computer room and book reading room.
Changing rooms to promote girls’ menstrual health. Girls are given free reusable sanitary pads by members of the Ethical Society of St Louis.
A fine, multipurpose hall was completed this week. This will enable children to take their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) within the school, instead of travelling to exam centres miles away.
Humanist Aid, Sweden, has helped to provide a support fund to help children from destitute homes who have difficulty paying their school fees.
UHST supporters ensure that the school is supplied with books and equipment for games, sports and science.
Scope Uganda provides permaculture training so children can create a school food forest.
With the school gaining good PLE results more parents want an opportunity for more children to continue to secondary education. The school’s current dream is to offer this at Katumba, as soon as sufficient resources can be mobilised.
On-air Discussion
When the moderator opened the programme to calls from the public, over 100 listeners responded. Listeners were appreciative of the progress the school has made and thanked donors for having built a unique modern school in the neglected village of Katumba Kisendera in Bukonzo subcounty. Many callers supported the addition of a secondary section.
Mr. Muhanika Julius A, our PTA member for academic standards, urged parents to support the school and work with teachers in improving the cognitive (knowledge), affective (values and sensibilities) and psychomotor (physical) abilities of the area’s children.
Mzee Bandaliza Amosi, the PTA Chairman, thanked Juma, as the managing Director, for inspiring the infrastructure developments, books, educational materials and the ICT Programme in the school. He further appealed to the parents to pay fees on time to ensure the ongoing sustainability of this fine school, which had been funded by donors.
Mr. Keith Morris, Director of Studies, explained that remedial teaching is offered to pupils whenever needed. This is important following unavoidable absences. Our children have a chance to assess what they still need to learn through regular homework and testing and we do our best to ensure that no child gets left behind. He thanked UHST supporters for equipping the school with reading materials. This has helped children to learn independently of the teacher.
Mr. Freedom Balikamaya , in charge sports, games and co-curricular activities, thanked UHST supporters for a recent donation for materials to develop games and sports in the school. Now that we have a Hall, we also need musical instruments to promote music, dance and drama.
Girls’ football team
Viola Atuhame, a pupil, said that sanitary pads and a place where girls can change them had really increased girls’ confidence in school. She also enjoyed using computers to send emails and messages to parents and friends.
Thembo Barbrine, another pupil, said he was proud to have moved a step forward into the digital world. He made a plea for more computers.
Computer room receives its first laptop computers
This ended a hugely successful venture into community engagement.
Katumba on community radio
Posted: August 27, 2023 by Steve Hurd
Katumba Humanist Primary School has featured before on local radio programmes, but last week they went one step further. Development FM, which transmits in Western Uganda and Eastern Congo, devoted a half-hour talk show to highlight the school’s achievements. The school has brought hope to this forgotten community in the Ruwenzori foothills alongside the Congo border. Many local parents, including the Development FM reporter, have been keen to get their children into this inclusive, secular school.
Initial Presentation
Irumba Juma Siriwayo, the school’s Director, took the opportunity to thank their development partners, Uganda Humanist Schools Trust, Humanist Aid, Sweden and the Ethical Society of St Louis and Scope Uganda. The whole community has been inspired. Since 2019 the following impressive buildings have been completed:
With the school gaining good PLE results more parents want an opportunity for more children to continue to secondary education. The school’s current dream is to offer this at Katumba, as soon as sufficient resources can be mobilised.
On-air Discussion
When the moderator opened the programme to calls from the public, over 100 listeners responded. Listeners were appreciative of the progress the school has made and thanked donors for having built a unique modern school in the neglected village of Katumba Kisendera in Bukonzo subcounty. Many callers supported the addition of a secondary section.
Mr. Muhanika Julius A, our PTA member for academic standards, urged parents to support the school and work with teachers in improving the cognitive (knowledge), affective (values and sensibilities) and psychomotor (physical) abilities of the area’s children.
Mzee Bandaliza Amosi, the PTA Chairman, thanked Juma, as the managing Director, for inspiring the infrastructure developments, books, educational materials and the ICT Programme in the school. He further appealed to the parents to pay fees on time to ensure the ongoing sustainability of this fine school, which had been funded by donors.
Mr. Keith Morris, Director of Studies, explained that remedial teaching is offered to pupils whenever needed. This is important following unavoidable absences. Our children have a chance to assess what they still need to learn through regular homework and testing and we do our best to ensure that no child gets left behind. He thanked UHST supporters for equipping the school with reading materials. This has helped children to learn independently of the teacher.
Mr. Freedom Balikamaya , in charge sports, games and co-curricular activities, thanked UHST supporters for a recent donation for materials to develop games and sports in the school. Now that we have a Hall, we also need musical instruments to promote music, dance and drama.
Viola Atuhame, a pupil, said that sanitary pads and a place where girls can change them had really increased girls’ confidence in school. She also enjoyed using computers to send emails and messages to parents and friends.
Thembo Barbrine, another pupil, said he was proud to have moved a step forward into the digital world. He made a plea for more computers.
This ended a hugely successful venture into community engagement.
Category: News