Jonan Arianda has written this report on his first year as Headteacher of Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School.
“Our school was created from the collapsed fundamentalist Pentecostal school, called His Grace Primary School. The former school proprietor forced all pupils to become Pentecostal Christians. This caused friction with community members who wanted freedom of conscience and they gradually withdrew their children from the school. With only 19 children remaining and teachers having gone unpaid for 4 months the school closed.
Transformation
Since Isaac Newton Humanist High School took over, the school has recovered and gone from strength to strength. The new inclusive Humanist philosophy, which is friendly and welcoming to pupils from all backgrounds, has seen a growth in numbers from 19 to 259 pupils. The atmosphere in the school has become positive and vibrant.
Kindergarten children
Primary one class
School staff and children really appreciate the efforts of Peter Kisirinya, our new Director, and UHST supporters in saving the school and working to establish high standards of education and welfare. The staff appreciate the good working relationship with teaching colleagues from Isaac Newton High School since its takeover. We are delighted that the school is now run as a not-for profit organisation and all income is used to benefit the school, with none being taken by a proprietor. As staff our lives are greatly changed and we pledge to work hard to make the school a success.
The first year has been transformational. New and better qualified staff have been recruited. We have 15 staff members, 12 teachers and 3 non-teaching. Textbooks have been provided and the general school infrastructure transformed. We have acquired new learning materials, visual aids, a TV set and preparatory materials for teachers. 7 former pupils who had dropped out of school were allowed to return and enter for their primary leaving examinations.
School food has improved immensely. Children receive breakfast and lunch every day – and, for some children, from the poorest homes, the school provides their main meal of the day.
Typical School Menu
Monday
Posho & beans
Porridge
Tuesday
Posho & beans
Porridge
Wednesday
Rice & beans
Milk & eggs
Thursday
Posho & beans
Yellow banana & eggs
Friday
Posho & beans
Porridge & Bread.
`
Embracing our new Humanist Ethos
Humanist is a new idea to many, but it has been in practice here without many of us realising. Many parents appreciate the need to have free will in deciding ones’ destiny and are particularly happy that in a humanist school there is no indoctrination. Pupils as young as four ask critical questions that deserve to be answered openly. Our teachers are learning that it is OK to say to children “I am not sure of the answer, what do you think?”. Teachers come into school with their personal beliefs, but they do not generally see a conflict with the humanist perspective on life. They are keen to learn more about the full implications of working in a school that embraces the Humanist ethos. For example, teachers who have come from schools where discipline is based on the rod are having to learn the positive benefits of moving from “violence to guidance”. We want our staff to understand and work within a Humanist Ethos. We need workshops on critical thinking, human rights, free speech, democracy, conflict resolution and other progressive policies. We require humanist literature and activities that are suitable for young children in Africa.”
Jonan Arinda, Headteacher, Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School
NOTE UHST and Uganda Humanist Schools Association have been trying to run a 3rd Humanist Schools Conference for some time. Covid held it up for two years. Our plans to hold it in late January 2023 are now in jeopardy. Given the broader financial pressures we are going to find it difficult to find the £5,000 it will cost to bring together teachers from the different Humanist Schools in a 3-day residential workshop. If the current outbreak of Ebola lasts into the new year then that will force a further postponement.
Isaac Newton High School is the longest running and biggest of the Humanist schools in Uganda. It educates over 1000 children, 750 in the secondary section and 259 in the newly acquired, former Evangelical Christian, primary school. The high cost of feeding this number of children threatens the school’s very existence.
When we visited in July, a happy, purposeful buzz ran through the entire school. Staff and children were putting Covid behind them and getting on with the job of teaching and learning and taking part in those wider activities that create a rich educational experience such as sports, music, drama, art and debating.
Girls performing a traditional dance in the new Isaac Newton Hall
The financial challenges, however, are acute. Family savings have been depleted and farm incomes, which are rainfall and harvest dependent, remain low. Consequently, many have run up substantial school fee arrears.
The Uganda government has tried to respond to the challenges. Isaac Newton took up the offer of a low interest government loan. This provided immediate relief but the school must find money to repay it over the next year. Their hope is that the economy will have recovered by then and families will be able to pay school fees in full.
UHST encouraged Humanist Schools to enrol their staff in the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Schools contribute 10% and staff 5% towards the pension fund, which provides staff with long-term security and encourages retention. During Covid, contributions to the scheme were suspended to help schools but as soon as the schools reopened they were presented with a bill for arrears of NSSF payments during the 2 years of Covid. In Isaac Newton’s case, they must find £4,400 in accumulated arrears. This is a huge amount at a time when fee incomes are so low.
The prolonged East African drought reduced crop yields and raised food prices throughout Uganda. The escalation in world food prices caused by Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine has had a further impact on family budgets and school food costs throughout Uganda. Food is the second highest school cost after salaries. School budgets have been squeezed between lower fee incomes and a more than doubling of food prices. Yet, ensuring that children receive school meals is crucial both to their physical welfare and their ability to study well.
Peter Kisirinya, ever the innovator and problem-solver, has tried to make the school less dependent on the vagaries of the market. The school has rented 10 acres of land from an elderly local family. 7 acres have been planted with maize and 3 acres with beans. The crops are doing well and they hope to produce enough food in the first term to meet the needs of the children and staff.
The schools maize crop on rented land
Growing beans as the main protein source
The school is coming to the end of two difficult years. Due to an outbreak of Ebola earlier this year, the latest challenge, children throughout Uganda were sent home on 24th November. Fortunately, both external and internal exams have been completed. The marking period has begun, and the school will be anxiously awaiting the results, which come out early in the new year.
As a result of unpaid school fees, high food prices, the cost of land hire and planting to yield a crop next term, and Social Security Fund arrears the school is left with outstanding debts of over £14,000, part of which is pay for the ever-patient school staff in November and December. As Humanists we recognise that the school’s salvation rests with people of good will. Peter is appealing to the better nature of parents to pay the fee arrears they owe. Following common practice in Uganda, children’s exam results may be withheld until the fees are paid. However, those parents who fear that their children may have done badly in exams may refuse to pay and forgo school reports and exam certificates. UHST would like to help, but our resources are at rock bottom after providing the extra support that schools have needed to get through two extraordinary years. It will be a huge challenge to clear the debts before the start of the new school year in February.
The Mustard Seed Humanist Schools are emerging from the challenges posed by Covid, Ebola and Russia’s war on Ukraine. Here is an end-of-year message from Moses Kamya, the Schools’ Director.
“We offer a big thank you to all UHST supporters. You have enabled us to navigate through Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine. As a result of your generous response to the UHST appeal, Mustard Seed Humanist Primary School was born in 2022. Our staff, children and the entire community are very appreciative! Many new families from the wider Busota community are ready to enrol their children into the primary section of Mustard Seed at the start of the 2023 school year in February.
The community is coming to understand that a Humanist school is inclusive and welcomes children, irrespective of their family’s beliefs or background. They appreciate that Mustard Seed is a happy school, with high standards of welfare and education and where staff aim to get the best from each child. By continuing to provide scholarships for bright children from poorer backgrounds, UHST supporters give hope and put a smile on the faces of our children. Thank you indeed!
We are coming close to the end of the school year. Our teachers are happy because the money we receive from UHST each month will enable us to pay staff up to the end of December.
Mustard Seed secondary teaching staff
Our refurbished computer lab, library and science laboratory are now in full use and are enhancing learning environment for our young people.
Right now, 144 children from our top classes are taking national examinations and we are hoping for good news when the results are published in January. Numbers entering for exams at each level are:
Primary Leaving Examination 15 Uganda Certificate in Education (O-level) 104 Uganda Advanced Certificate in Education (A-level) 25.
Taking UCE O-level examinations in the Mustard Seed School Hall
Each year, more former Mustard Seed students graduate from Higher Education institutions in a variety of subjects such as Law, Accounting, Agriculture. Many students take undergraduate courses in teaching and nursing, both of which are becoming graduate professions.
Mustard Seed School sports teams are doing well in inter-school competitions. Both our girls’ and boys’ football teams reached the semi-finals of the regional tournament this year.
Mustard Seed Girl footballers in Semi Final of the Regional cup
Our Aids Club at secondary school continues to gain publicity in the media because of its leading role in sensitising teenagers to the ongoing challenge that HIV still poses in Uganda.
Article about Mustard Seed’s Aids Club in the national Newspaper “New Vision”
The Uganda Government has ordered the closure of all schools by 25th November, two weeks earlier than usual, due to an Ebola outbreak which has infected 141 people, leading to 55 deaths across the country, including school children.
Minister of Education, Mrs Museveni, ordering the closure of schools as an Ebola protection measure
Despite the continued challenges, with help from UHST supporters, we expect to be opening Mustard Seed Humanist Schools in the first week of February, with more students and a determination to transform the life chances of a new generation of young people.”
Posted: November 25, 2022 by Steve Hurd
First year as a Humanist primary school
Jonan Arianda has written this report on his first year as Headteacher of Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School.
“Our school was created from the collapsed fundamentalist Pentecostal school, called His Grace Primary School. The former school proprietor forced all pupils to become Pentecostal Christians. This caused friction with community members who wanted freedom of conscience and they gradually withdrew their children from the school. With only 19 children remaining and teachers having gone unpaid for 4 months the school closed.
Transformation
Since Isaac Newton Humanist High School took over, the school has recovered and gone from strength to strength. The new inclusive Humanist philosophy, which is friendly and welcoming to pupils from all backgrounds, has seen a growth in numbers from 19 to 259 pupils. The atmosphere in the school has become positive and vibrant.
School staff and children really appreciate the efforts of Peter Kisirinya, our new Director, and UHST supporters in saving the school and working to establish high standards of education and welfare. The staff appreciate the good working relationship with teaching colleagues from Isaac Newton High School since its takeover. We are delighted that the school is now run as a not-for profit organisation and all income is used to benefit the school, with none being taken by a proprietor. As staff our lives are greatly changed and we pledge to work hard to make the school a success.
The first year has been transformational. New and better qualified staff have been recruited. We have 15 staff members, 12 teachers and 3 non-teaching. Textbooks have been provided and the general school infrastructure transformed. We have acquired new learning materials, visual aids, a TV set and preparatory materials for teachers. 7 former pupils who had dropped out of school were allowed to return and enter for their primary leaving examinations.
School food has improved immensely. Children receive breakfast and lunch every day – and, for some children, from the poorest homes, the school provides their main meal of the day.
Typical School Menu
`
Embracing our new Humanist Ethos
Humanist is a new idea to many, but it has been in practice here without many of us realising. Many parents appreciate the need to have free will in deciding ones’ destiny and are particularly happy that in a humanist school there is no indoctrination. Pupils as young as four ask critical questions that deserve to be answered openly. Our teachers are learning that it is OK to say to children “I am not sure of the answer, what do you think?”. Teachers come into school with their personal beliefs, but they do not generally see a conflict with the humanist perspective on life. They are keen to learn more about the full implications of working in a school that embraces the Humanist ethos. For example, teachers who have come from schools where discipline is based on the rod are having to learn the positive benefits of moving from “violence to guidance”. We want our staff to understand and work within a Humanist Ethos. We need workshops on critical thinking, human rights, free speech, democracy, conflict resolution and other progressive policies. We require humanist literature and activities that are suitable for young children in Africa.”
Jonan Arinda, Headteacher, Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School
NOTE UHST and Uganda Humanist Schools Association have been trying to run a 3rd Humanist Schools Conference for some time. Covid held it up for two years. Our plans to hold it in late January 2023 are now in jeopardy. Given the broader financial pressures we are going to find it difficult to find the £5,000 it will cost to bring together teachers from the different Humanist Schools in a 3-day residential workshop. If the current outbreak of Ebola lasts into the new year then that will force a further postponement.
Posted: November 25, 2022 by Steve Hurd
Isaac Newton School: Food for Thought
Isaac Newton High School is the longest running and biggest of the Humanist schools in Uganda. It educates over 1000 children, 750 in the secondary section and 259 in the newly acquired, former Evangelical Christian, primary school. The high cost of feeding this number of children threatens the school’s very existence.
When we visited in July, a happy, purposeful buzz ran through the entire school. Staff and children were putting Covid behind them and getting on with the job of teaching and learning and taking part in those wider activities that create a rich educational experience such as sports, music, drama, art and debating.
The financial challenges, however, are acute. Family savings have been depleted and farm incomes, which are rainfall and harvest dependent, remain low. Consequently, many have run up substantial school fee arrears.
The Uganda government has tried to respond to the challenges. Isaac Newton took up the offer of a low interest government loan. This provided immediate relief but the school must find money to repay it over the next year. Their hope is that the economy will have recovered by then and families will be able to pay school fees in full.
UHST encouraged Humanist Schools to enrol their staff in the National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Schools contribute 10% and staff 5% towards the pension fund, which provides staff with long-term security and encourages retention. During Covid, contributions to the scheme were suspended to help schools but as soon as the schools reopened they were presented with a bill for arrears of NSSF payments during the 2 years of Covid. In Isaac Newton’s case, they must find £4,400 in accumulated arrears. This is a huge amount at a time when fee incomes are so low.
The prolonged East African drought reduced crop yields and raised food prices throughout Uganda. The escalation in world food prices caused by Russia’s unprovoked war on Ukraine has had a further impact on family budgets and school food costs throughout Uganda. Food is the second highest school cost after salaries. School budgets have been squeezed between lower fee incomes and a more than doubling of food prices. Yet, ensuring that children receive school meals is crucial both to their physical welfare and their ability to study well.
Peter Kisirinya, ever the innovator and problem-solver, has tried to make the school less dependent on the vagaries of the market. The school has rented 10 acres of land from an elderly local family. 7 acres have been planted with maize and 3 acres with beans. The crops are doing well and they hope to produce enough food in the first term to meet the needs of the children and staff.
The school is coming to the end of two difficult years. Due to an outbreak of Ebola earlier this year, the latest challenge, children throughout Uganda were sent home on 24th November. Fortunately, both external and internal exams have been completed. The marking period has begun, and the school will be anxiously awaiting the results, which come out early in the new year.
As a result of unpaid school fees, high food prices, the cost of land hire and planting to yield a crop next term, and Social Security Fund arrears the school is left with outstanding debts of over £14,000, part of which is pay for the ever-patient school staff in November and December. As Humanists we recognise that the school’s salvation rests with people of good will. Peter is appealing to the better nature of parents to pay the fee arrears they owe. Following common practice in Uganda, children’s exam results may be withheld until the fees are paid. However, those parents who fear that their children may have done badly in exams may refuse to pay and forgo school reports and exam certificates. UHST would like to help, but our resources are at rock bottom after providing the extra support that schools have needed to get through two extraordinary years. It will be a huge challenge to clear the debts before the start of the new school year in February.
Posted: November 23, 2022 by Steve Hurd
Mustard Seed Schools in good heart
The Mustard Seed Humanist Schools are emerging from the challenges posed by Covid, Ebola and Russia’s war on Ukraine. Here is an end-of-year message from Moses Kamya, the Schools’ Director.
“We offer a big thank you to all UHST supporters. You have enabled us to navigate through Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine. As a result of your generous response to the UHST appeal, Mustard Seed Humanist Primary School was born in 2022. Our staff, children and the entire community are very appreciative! Many new families from the wider Busota community are ready to enrol their children into the primary section of Mustard Seed at the start of the 2023 school year in February.
The community is coming to understand that a Humanist school is inclusive and welcomes children, irrespective of their family’s beliefs or background. They appreciate that Mustard Seed is a happy school, with high standards of welfare and education and where staff aim to get the best from each child. By continuing to provide scholarships for bright children from poorer backgrounds, UHST supporters give hope and put a smile on the faces of our children. Thank you indeed!
We are coming close to the end of the school year. Our teachers are happy because the money we receive from UHST each month will enable us to pay staff up to the end of December.
Our refurbished computer lab, library and science laboratory are now in full use and are enhancing learning environment for our young people.
Right now, 144 children from our top classes are taking national examinations and we are hoping for good news when the results are published in January. Numbers entering for exams at each level are:
Primary Leaving Examination 15
Uganda Certificate in Education (O-level) 104
Uganda Advanced Certificate in Education (A-level) 25.
Each year, more former Mustard Seed students graduate from Higher Education institutions in a variety of subjects such as Law, Accounting, Agriculture. Many students take undergraduate courses in teaching and nursing, both of which are becoming graduate professions.
Mustard Seed School sports teams are doing well in inter-school competitions. Both our girls’ and boys’ football teams reached the semi-finals of the regional tournament this year.
Our Aids Club at secondary school continues to gain publicity in the media because of its leading role in sensitising teenagers to the ongoing challenge that HIV still poses in Uganda.
The Uganda Government has ordered the closure of all schools by 25th November, two weeks earlier than usual, due to an Ebola outbreak which has infected 141 people, leading to 55 deaths across the country, including school children.
Despite the continued challenges, with help from UHST supporters, we expect to be opening Mustard Seed Humanist Schools in the first week of February, with more students and a determination to transform the life chances of a new generation of young people.”
Moses Kamya, Director, Mustard Seed Humanist School, November, 2022.