UHST now supports 4 primary schools: Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School, Kanungu Humanist Primary School, Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School and Mustard Seed Humanist Primary School. So, it is very important that we have a good understanding of the forces shaping primary education in Uganda, in order to help our primary schools to do the best possible job for the children in their communities.
Children of Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School below the Ruwenzori Mountains
All 4 schools are in poor rural locations where, historically, children have had little access to affordable schooling and where the general quality of education has been low due to large class sizes, lack of books and learning resources and low teacher morale due to very low and intermittent pay. This has been true whether the schools are private or state run. Private education is growing in Uganda and accounts for one-third of primary and two-thirds of secondary schools. Primary participation has increased to 96% since the government introduced its Universal Primary Education (UPE) initiative in the year 2000. However, still less than a quarter of children have access to nurseries and other pre-school opportunities, which we know from studies around the world, make a huge difference to final educational achievement. One-third of children drop out without completing their primary schooling and fewer than a half of children who gain a Primary Leaving Certificate move on to secondary school.
Several factors hold back educational progress in Uganda. The country has one of the highest birth and fertility rates in the world. Currently half the population is under the age of 17. The demographic transition is beginning, and family sizes are falling as more women come into the labour market. However, although the government is spending more each year on education, it is running to stand still given the rising number of children each year.
All schools, including government ones, charge school fees. Yet, the fees are very low as many families have small and irregular cash incomes. Average household expenditure on primary education is just £40 per child per year in rural areas, and £100 in the central region around Kampala. The £2 to £10 per year that schools receive from government does little to plug this regional gap in funding between schools. The consequence is widespread under-resourcing of schools. There are also substantial inequalities between urban and rural schools, between state and private schools, and among private schools, where fees vary in direct relationship to their examination success. Class sizes can be as low as 30 in the better funded private schools but well over 100 in some of the more deprived rural areas. While the average class size is over 50, classes of 70-100 are common. Such large classes stretch resources and mean that many children must learn to read with flash cards, and without having access to books. A UNESCO study found that 40% of children were scarcely literate in Primary 6, the year before they take their Primary Leaving Examination. Another concern is the low levels of welfare in many primary schools. Many schools have limited access to water for drinking and handwashing, toilet facilities may be poor and insanitary, school food is inadequate and physical and even sexual abuse of children is common. According to a study by UNESCO, 24% of children in Uganda have experienced some form of sexual abuse by the time they leave primary school.
Primary Education covers the age range 5 to 13 (Primary classes 1 to 7). Children are generally taught in English from the beginning of primary school, although a local language may be used in the first three years. Basic literacy and numeracy are taught and reinforced using themes that interest children, such as: Our Community, Food & Nutrition, Our Environment, Energy, Human Body & Health, Living things: Plants & Animals, Culture & Gender, Child Protection, Technology. From Primary 4, learning takes place through subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Religious Education (Christian & Islamic), Music, Dance, Drama, Art, Technology & Physical Education, Local Language, Kiswahili.
At the end of Primary 7, children take their Primary Leaving Examination which comprises 4 test papers in Mathematics, English language, Science and Social Studies. Each paper is 135 minutes, except for Mathematics which is 150 minutes. The papers are graded 1 to 9 so the best possible aggregate mark is 4 (which is a grade 1 distinction in each subject). The lowest aggregate is 36 (9 points for each subject, which is a fail). Students with between 4 and 12 points gain a first grade, or division 1; aggregate scores between 13 and 23 results in a second grade; 24-29 awards a third grade; 30-34 pass with a fourth grade and those with 35 or 36 fail. Only two-thirds of children who enter primary education pass their PLE. In the 2021 results only 11% gained grade 1, 46% grade 2, 20% grade 3, 13% grade 4 and 10% who entered for the exam failed completely.
What difference does passing PLE make to children’s lives in Uganda?
Here is an account given by Robert Magara, the Director of Kanungu Humanist Primary School:
“As soon as the PLE results are published, parents started hunting for vacancies in secondary schools. For many parents, the top-most consideration is a school’s performance over the years. Much as this is an important parameter, it cannot be the only one. They must also take account of what school fees they can afford from the meagre incomes they receive from selling their cash crops.
The job market is changing and by the time children leave school, a lot will have changed. For the many children who do not go on to secondary school, PLE success will determine access to a whole range of possible jobs. So, the additional opportunities children have when they have completed PLE are many!
With a Primary Leaving Certificate, children at the age of 13 can go for a three-year craft training in farm and technical schools and in vocational training centres.
Community polytechnic schools offer three-year full-time courses to primary seven leavers, leading to the award of the Uganda Junior Technical Certificate (UJTC).
Many primary leavers spend a year earning money to pay fees to enter secondary school a year late. If they can fund themselves to Senior 4, and gain O-levels, then they have a chance to go for vocational certificate courses and later upgrade after two years to go for diploma courses. Those showing great determination can also take the long route onto a vocational degree course.
Those children who cannot afford to pay fees or high fees rates in secondary schools go for shorter courses in vocational institutions. Those children who drop out of primary school still have other chances of training in practical skills through working alongside more experienced workers. We need people who can build roads, build good houses, who can wire electricity and we need people to train in tailoring, plumbing, carpentry, joinery and metal fabrication. These jobs can provide appropriate skills to the students that the current system of education fails. Of course, despite the opportunities many of the children who fail to complete primary school or perform poorly in the PLE have to return to the land as farmers.”
Children of Kanungu Humanist Primary School at lunch
Moses Kamya, the Director of Mustard Seed Humanist Secondary School, Busota, Uganda, has set out what happens to students when they leave school. This is his account:
“It is good news to hear that donors are interested to hear about our students’ performance when they leave school. Our students have many opportunities for later advancement:
About 10 join universities each year, eg Ivan Kayondo is a second year BSc education student at Busitema university , Joan Mukisa is a second year law student at Makerere University ( all were UHST sponsored). David Banige is in third year doing BSc Agric, Paul Madandha completed a degree in primary teaching, Derick Mulondo(UHST funded) is a third year BScEduc student at Busitema University, etc.
About 10 join secondary school teacher training, eg Mathias Ochan(UHST funded) is now teaching with us having done a diploma in teacher training at Kaliro teachers college. Other former students teaching with us after after completing a diploma include Nyago Andrew, Matege Conelius, Okello Peres and Hellen Namaganda.
Of late many of our children have taken up nursing and other medical courses after senior four, about 20 each year. Gilbert Tusubira(UHST funded) is completing a two year nursing course, Baidu Simon(UHST funded) is in year one doing lab technology, Hellen Mukoda has completed her nursing course from Jinja, others on the nursing course are Shafik Mpaata(first year), Joan Nyabweze(first year) Perinah Kyowansa(second year), Doreen Nabirye(second year) Grace Mukoda(second year), Viola Bugonzi(first year).
Joan Mukisa is about to start the third year of her degree at the prestigious Makerere University Law School.
About 15 join other vocational courses in technical institutions like carpentry, catering, beauty and cosmetology, motor vehicle driving and mechanics, plumbing, welding and fabrication, secretarial courses, primary teachers colleges, book keeping, and others. Gloria Mukyala(UHST sponsored), completed a primary teachers certificate from Iganga teachers college last year, Lukia Naigaga (UHST funded) has just finished her certificate in catering from Kamuli polytechnical school. After further vocational training our former students become secretaries, car mechanics, carpenters, welders, builders, salon operators and other trades.
About 50 every year with poorer O levels and those that fail A level become self employed as farmers, bricklayers, shop keepers, boda bodas riders (motobike taxis), making street food like chapati and rolex (a filled chapati and omelette), hotel and bar workers, market vendors. Sosi Kalema finished with us in 2015 and is now a taxi driver plying the Kamuli-Jinja route.
About 10 every year completely drop out of school without any job. Being in the 16-19 age range, some marry and become peasant farmers.
About 10 to 15 students go into many other fields, such as IT, music, art and design, truck drivers, DJs, comedians, taxi park, brokers, fish mongers, barbers, cobblers, motorcycle repairers, sugar cane cutters/loaders and even politics. Kaima Alex sat A level with us in 2017. He is now the youth counsellor for the Southern division in Kamuli municipality and has a place on the town council. Ivan Naulere completed S6 in 2017. Using the knowledge he obtained from computer studies, he established a computer training school in Wakiso district near Kampala.
So, as you can see, education at Mustard Seed School opens up many avenues for making a living.”
Juliet Nakyanzi has been appointed to head the kindergarten section of the new Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School. She is very knowledgeable about childhood education and has a great passion for young children, having a young baby of her own. Peter Kisirinya, the school’s Director, is delighted to welcome her to this key post in the new school.
Juliet Nakyanzi was born in 1991 to young parents. Her father was a laboratory technician in the main regional hospital. Unfortunately, Juliet became an orphan in Primary 3 losing both of her parents to HIV/Aids. She later joined Isaac Newton High School, being one of the first students to be awarded a scholarship paid for by a UHST supporter. After passing her UCE O-level exams in 2010, she went on to study early Childhood education. Juliet gained her Teaching Certificate and then passed her Advanced Diploma in 2014, Her first post was in a private nursery which, like many other private schools, closed down in 2020 due to Covid.
Since we bought the new primary school in May it has been completely transformed. The school has a new cook house, new toilets, walls have been repaired and painted and books and play materials have been purchased. The first picture below shows the primary school from the front gate. The second picture shows work in progress on building the new kindergarten, which should be completed by September.
Newly refurbished Isaac Newton Humanist Primary SchoolConstruction of new kindergarten for children aged 3 to 5
Peter Kisirinya would like to thank all UHST supporters who sent donations to make possible the purchase and refurbishment of the new humanist primary school. The local community is delighted to have an inclusive primary school embracing liberal humanist values, and operating alongside Isaac Newton Humanist High School, which has gained huge respect over the years. The schools together give hope for a better future to the whole community.
Posted: August 26, 2021 by Steve Hurd
What do children gain from Primary Education in Uganda?
UHST now supports 4 primary schools: Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School, Kanungu Humanist Primary School, Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School and Mustard Seed Humanist Primary School. So, it is very important that we have a good understanding of the forces shaping primary education in Uganda, in order to help our primary schools to do the best possible job for the children in their communities.
All 4 schools are in poor rural locations where, historically, children have had little access to affordable schooling and where the general quality of education has been low due to large class sizes, lack of books and learning resources and low teacher morale due to very low and intermittent pay. This has been true whether the schools are private or state run. Private education is growing in Uganda and accounts for one-third of primary and two-thirds of secondary schools. Primary participation has increased to 96% since the government introduced its Universal Primary Education (UPE) initiative in the year 2000. However, still less than a quarter of children have access to nurseries and other pre-school opportunities, which we know from studies around the world, make a huge difference to final educational achievement. One-third of children drop out without completing their primary schooling and fewer than a half of children who gain a Primary Leaving Certificate move on to secondary school.
Several factors hold back educational progress in Uganda. The country has one of the highest birth and fertility rates in the world. Currently half the population is under the age of 17. The demographic transition is beginning, and family sizes are falling as more women come into the labour market. However, although the government is spending more each year on education, it is running to stand still given the rising number of children each year.
All schools, including government ones, charge school fees. Yet, the fees are very low as many families have small and irregular cash incomes. Average household expenditure on primary education is just £40 per child per year in rural areas, and £100 in the central region around Kampala. The £2 to £10 per year that schools receive from government does little to plug this regional gap in funding between schools. The consequence is widespread under-resourcing of schools. There are also substantial inequalities between urban and rural schools, between state and private schools, and among private schools, where fees vary in direct relationship to their examination success. Class sizes can be as low as 30 in the better funded private schools but well over 100 in some of the more deprived rural areas. While the average class size is over 50, classes of 70-100 are common. Such large classes stretch resources and mean that many children must learn to read with flash cards, and without having access to books. A UNESCO study found that 40% of children were scarcely literate in Primary 6, the year before they take their Primary Leaving Examination. Another concern is the low levels of welfare in many primary schools. Many schools have limited access to water for drinking and handwashing, toilet facilities may be poor and insanitary, school food is inadequate and physical and even sexual abuse of children is common. According to a study by UNESCO, 24% of children in Uganda have experienced some form of sexual abuse by the time they leave primary school.
Primary Education covers the age range 5 to 13 (Primary classes 1 to 7). Children are generally taught in English from the beginning of primary school, although a local language may be used in the first three years. Basic literacy and numeracy are taught and reinforced using themes that interest children, such as: Our Community, Food & Nutrition, Our Environment, Energy, Human Body & Health, Living things: Plants & Animals, Culture & Gender, Child Protection, Technology. From Primary 4, learning takes place through subjects: English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Religious Education (Christian & Islamic), Music, Dance, Drama, Art, Technology & Physical Education, Local Language, Kiswahili.
At the end of Primary 7, children take their Primary Leaving Examination which comprises 4 test papers in Mathematics, English language, Science and Social Studies. Each paper is 135 minutes, except for Mathematics which is 150 minutes. The papers are graded 1 to 9 so the best possible aggregate mark is 4 (which is a grade 1 distinction in each subject). The lowest aggregate is 36 (9 points for each subject, which is a fail). Students with between 4 and 12 points gain a first grade, or division 1; aggregate scores between 13 and 23 results in a second grade; 24-29 awards a third grade; 30-34 pass with a fourth grade and those with 35 or 36 fail. Only two-thirds of children who enter primary education pass their PLE. In the 2021 results only 11% gained grade 1, 46% grade 2, 20% grade 3, 13% grade 4 and 10% who entered for the exam failed completely.
What difference does passing PLE make to children’s lives in Uganda?
Here is an account given by Robert Magara, the Director of Kanungu Humanist Primary School:
“As soon as the PLE results are published, parents started hunting for vacancies in secondary schools. For many parents, the top-most consideration is a school’s performance over the years. Much as this is an important parameter, it cannot be the only one. They must also take account of what school fees they can afford from the meagre incomes they receive from selling their cash crops.
The job market is changing and by the time children leave school, a lot will have changed. For the many children who do not go on to secondary school, PLE success will determine access to a whole range of possible jobs. So, the additional opportunities children have when they have completed PLE are many!
With a Primary Leaving Certificate, children at the age of 13 can go for a three-year craft training in farm and technical schools and in vocational training centres.
Community polytechnic schools offer three-year full-time courses to primary seven leavers, leading to the award of the Uganda Junior Technical Certificate (UJTC).
Many primary leavers spend a year earning money to pay fees to enter secondary school a year late. If they can fund themselves to Senior 4, and gain O-levels, then they have a chance to go for vocational certificate courses and later upgrade after two years to go for diploma courses. Those showing great determination can also take the long route onto a vocational degree course.
Those children who cannot afford to pay fees or high fees rates in secondary schools go for shorter courses in vocational institutions. Those children who drop out of primary school still have other chances of training in practical skills through working alongside more experienced workers. We need people who can build roads, build good houses, who can wire electricity and we need people to train in tailoring, plumbing, carpentry, joinery and metal fabrication. These jobs can provide appropriate skills to the students that the current system of education fails. Of course, despite the opportunities many of the children who fail to complete primary school or perform poorly in the PLE have to return to the land as farmers.”
Posted: August 18, 2021 by Steve Hurd
What happens to students when they leave school?
Moses Kamya, the Director of Mustard Seed Humanist Secondary School, Busota, Uganda, has set out what happens to students when they leave school. This is his account:
“It is good news to hear that donors are interested to hear about our students’ performance when they leave school. Our students have many opportunities for later advancement:
About 10 join universities each year, eg Ivan Kayondo is a second year BSc education student at Busitema university , Joan Mukisa is a second year law student at Makerere University ( all were UHST sponsored). David Banige is in third year doing BSc Agric, Paul Madandha completed a degree in primary teaching, Derick Mulondo(UHST funded) is a third year BScEduc student at Busitema University, etc.
About 10 join secondary school teacher training, eg Mathias Ochan(UHST funded) is now teaching with us having done a diploma in teacher training at Kaliro teachers college. Other former students teaching with us after after completing a diploma include Nyago Andrew, Matege Conelius, Okello Peres and Hellen Namaganda.
Of late many of our children have taken up nursing and other medical courses after senior four, about 20 each year. Gilbert Tusubira(UHST funded) is completing a two year nursing course, Baidu Simon(UHST funded) is in year one doing lab technology, Hellen Mukoda has completed her nursing course from Jinja, others on the nursing course are Shafik Mpaata(first year), Joan Nyabweze(first year) Perinah Kyowansa(second year), Doreen Nabirye(second year) Grace Mukoda(second year), Viola Bugonzi(first year).
Joan Mukisa is about to start the third year of her degree at the prestigious Makerere University Law School.
About 15 join other vocational courses in technical institutions like carpentry, catering, beauty and cosmetology, motor vehicle driving and mechanics, plumbing, welding and fabrication, secretarial courses, primary teachers colleges, book keeping, and others. Gloria Mukyala(UHST sponsored), completed a primary teachers certificate from Iganga teachers college last year, Lukia Naigaga (UHST funded) has just finished her certificate in catering from Kamuli polytechnical school. After further vocational training our former students become secretaries, car mechanics, carpenters, welders, builders, salon operators and other trades.
About 50 every year with poorer O levels and those that fail A level become self employed as farmers, bricklayers, shop keepers, boda bodas riders (motobike taxis), making street food like chapati and rolex (a filled chapati and omelette), hotel and bar workers, market vendors. Sosi Kalema finished with us in 2015 and is now a taxi driver plying the Kamuli-Jinja route.
About 10 every year completely drop out of school without any job. Being in the 16-19 age range, some marry and become peasant farmers.
About 10 to 15 students go into many other fields, such as IT, music, art and design, truck drivers, DJs, comedians, taxi park, brokers, fish mongers, barbers, cobblers, motorcycle repairers, sugar cane cutters/loaders and even politics. Kaima Alex sat A level with us in 2017. He is now the youth counsellor for the Southern division in Kamuli municipality and has a place on the town council. Ivan Naulere completed S6 in 2017. Using the knowledge he obtained from computer studies, he established a computer training school in Wakiso district near Kampala.
So, as you can see, education at Mustard Seed School opens up many avenues for making a living.”
Posted: August 6, 2021 by Steve Hurd
Isaac Newton appoints old girl to lead new Kindergarten
Juliet Nakyanzi has been appointed to head the kindergarten section of the new Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School. She is very knowledgeable about childhood education and has a great passion for young children, having a young baby of her own. Peter Kisirinya, the school’s Director, is delighted to welcome her to this key post in the new school.
Juliet Nakyanzi was born in 1991 to young parents. Her father was a laboratory technician in the main regional hospital. Unfortunately, Juliet became an orphan in Primary 3 losing both of her parents to HIV/Aids. She later joined Isaac Newton High School, being one of the first students to be awarded a scholarship paid for by a UHST supporter. After passing her UCE O-level exams in 2010, she went on to study early Childhood education. Juliet gained her Teaching Certificate and then passed her Advanced Diploma in 2014, Her first post was in a private nursery which, like many other private schools, closed down in 2020 due to Covid.
Since we bought the new primary school in May it has been completely transformed. The school has a new cook house, new toilets, walls have been repaired and painted and books and play materials have been purchased. The first picture below shows the primary school from the front gate. The second picture shows work in progress on building the new kindergarten, which should be completed by September.
Peter Kisirinya would like to thank all UHST supporters who sent donations to make possible the purchase and refurbishment of the new humanist primary school. The local community is delighted to have an inclusive primary school embracing liberal humanist values, and operating alongside Isaac Newton Humanist High School, which has gained huge respect over the years. The schools together give hope for a better future to the whole community.