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.
Senior 4 students at the Humanist High Schools in Uganda have performed well in their 2020 O-level exams.
The Uganda Certificate in Education, widely referred to as Ordinary-level exams, are taken at age 16. To gain an overall grade, students must pass in all of 7 core subjects. The final total across the 7 provides an aggregate grade, which forms the basis of league tables, which rank schools by district and nationally. Just over 6% of students in Uganda achieve an aggregate grade 1 over 7 subjects.
In 2020, the final year of study was very much affected by school closures due to Covid. To help students, the UNEB exam board assessed them on the basis of a restricted syllabus, which the schools were informed of some months before the final exam.
22% of Isaac Newton students gained Grade 1. This placed the school 9 out of 36 schools in its district. If they had included grade 2, then the school would have been higher, as 40% of its students gained either 1 or 2.
Another pleasing feature is that the school produced the 3rd highest performing individual student in the District, and 2 were in the top 20 students. The school is clearly operating at the highest level and its teachers extend even the brightest students.
At Mustard Seed School in Busota, 10% of students gained Grade 1, well above the national average. The school ranked 6th out of 30 schools in its District. A feature of Uganda, in common with most other countries, is that the highest school performance is in richer neighbourhoods of the country. This means that results are higher around Kampala, the capital, where most higher income families live, and declines towards the more remote rural areas, where more people depend upon subsistence agriculture.
The results were a source of joy among students and families. The picture shows Sylvia Nakaibale, from Mustard Seed School, with her family. She holds a copy of the national newspaper containing the UCE results. Sylvia is the only child in secondary school in her family. All her older brothers dropped out of school due to lack of money to pay fees. Her father is a herbalist, but earns little money. He is proud of his daughter’s achievement, which has only been possible because she gained a scholarship that was generously funded by a UHST supporter. His hope now is that Sylvia will be able to get support to study for UACE (Advanced level) and possibly later to enrol in university to become the shining light in their family.
There can be little doubt that UHST scholarships provide a vital life line to a better future for bright young people from poorer homes. As the network of Humanist Schools expands we shall need to find more people who are willing to support children through their education.
I started school in 2003. Ms. Monic, my nursery teacher, moved me up 3 classes in one year and, as my academic performance was excellent, she arranged for me to transfer to a better school for my primary education, which I completed in 2009 with very good Primary Leaving Exam grades.
In 2010, I joined Kyabazinga college to study for O-levels. For a time four children from my family were in the same school but eventually my father found it impossible to pay fees for us all. As I was performing well, I was allowed to complete my O-levels, but my 3 brothers had no option but to leave.
Despite getting decent O-levels, due to the bad financial state at home, I could not join the Senior 5 A-level class until almost the end of term two. One day, I met Mr. Peter Kilimani, an Agriculture teacher at Mustard Seed Humanist School. After telling him about my family circumstances and ambitions he arranged for me to apply for a place at his school. From that point on, my life and fortunes were transformed. My father was delighted by the idea of me joining the mighty Mustard Seed Humanist School in Busota.
I joined the school at the beginning of the third term of my senior five in 2014. Joining a new environment could be difficult, but as a new student of Mustard Seed I was made to feel at home by teachers and fellow students. Mustard Seed is a happy school with very good relations among staff and students.
In 2015 when I entered senior six, my father fell sick. He was admitted to hospital and was on sick bed for some good months. Everything our family owned, such as land and livestock were sold to pay hospital bills. When my father died, I lost hope, but the school was marvelous. They stepped in immediately and waived my fees so that I could complete my A-level studies in Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Geography with subsidiary Computing. I am so grateful to the school Director, Mr. Moses Kamya, and the entire school for giving me the opportunity to complete my secondary education.
The favorable learning environment, good teaching staff and the well-equipped library at Mustard Seed School enabled me to gain three A-levels with grades C, D and E, which were very high at the time for a rural school in Uganda. Although I was one of the top students in 2015, I was unable to join University immediately and had to spend a full year looking for money to pay university fees.
I met great teachers, mentors and advisors at Mustard Seed, who have tremendously changed my life. After completing my A-levels, the staff were still there for me. My agriculture teacher, Mr. Samuel Ikendi, found me a three-month contract with an NGO where he was working. While working in the NGO, I made very many friends, both Ugandans and Americans. One day, an American guy asked me my highest level of education and after telling him, he decided to sponsor my university education. I am now completing a four-year B.Sc. degree course in Agriculture at Busoga University. Due to the strong academic foundation I gained at Mustard Seed School, I have coped well with university-level studies. My current Collective Grade Point Average (CGPA) is 4.45 out of 5 and I am currently finalising my final research project with an NGO in Kamuli and Mr. Ikendi is my field supervisor. I have been told to expect to graduate with a first-class honours degree.
I attribute my success to the solid academic grounding I gained at Mustard Seed School and would like to extend my sincere and heart-felt appreciation to the entire Mustard Seed Humanist School, Busota for having shaped me to what I am now.
Long live Mustard Seed Humanist School and its motto: “Commit to Excel”
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.
Posted: August 4, 2021 by Steve Hurd
Humanist High Schools break the Grade Barrier
Senior 4 students at the Humanist High Schools in Uganda have performed well in their 2020 O-level exams.
The Uganda Certificate in Education, widely referred to as Ordinary-level exams, are taken at age 16. To gain an overall grade, students must pass in all of 7 core subjects. The final total across the 7 provides an aggregate grade, which forms the basis of league tables, which rank schools by district and nationally. Just over 6% of students in Uganda achieve an aggregate grade 1 over 7 subjects.
In 2020, the final year of study was very much affected by school closures due to Covid. To help students, the UNEB exam board assessed them on the basis of a restricted syllabus, which the schools were informed of some months before the final exam.
22% of Isaac Newton students gained Grade 1. This placed the school 9 out of 36 schools in its district. If they had included grade 2, then the school would have been higher, as 40% of its students gained either 1 or 2.
Another pleasing feature is that the school produced the 3rd highest performing individual student in the District, and 2 were in the top 20 students. The school is clearly operating at the highest level and its teachers extend even the brightest students.
At Mustard Seed School in Busota, 10% of students gained Grade 1, well above the national average. The school ranked 6th out of 30 schools in its District. A feature of Uganda, in common with most other countries, is that the highest school performance is in richer neighbourhoods of the country. This means that results are higher around Kampala, the capital, where most higher income families live, and declines towards the more remote rural areas, where more people depend upon subsistence agriculture.
The results were a source of joy among students and families. The picture shows Sylvia Nakaibale, from Mustard Seed School, with her family. She holds a copy of the national newspaper containing the UCE results. Sylvia is the only child in secondary school in her family. All her older brothers dropped out of school due to lack of money to pay fees. Her father is a herbalist, but earns little money. He is proud of his daughter’s achievement, which has only been possible because she gained a scholarship that was generously funded by a UHST supporter. His hope now is that Sylvia will be able to get support to study for UACE (Advanced level) and possibly later to enrol in university to become the shining light in their family.
There can be little doubt that UHST scholarships provide a vital life line to a better future for bright young people from poorer homes. As the network of Humanist Schools expands we shall need to find more people who are willing to support children through their education.
Posted: July 27, 2021 by Steve Hurd
A life transformed by effort, education and kindness
Letter of thanks from David Banige
I started school in 2003. Ms. Monic, my nursery teacher, moved me up 3 classes in one year and, as my academic performance was excellent, she arranged for me to transfer to a better school for my primary education, which I completed in 2009 with very good Primary Leaving Exam grades.
In 2010, I joined Kyabazinga college to study for O-levels. For a time four children from my family were in the same school but eventually my father found it impossible to pay fees for us all. As I was performing well, I was allowed to complete my O-levels, but my 3 brothers had no option but to leave.
Despite getting decent O-levels, due to the bad financial state at home, I could not join the Senior 5 A-level class until almost the end of term two. One day, I met Mr. Peter Kilimani, an Agriculture teacher at Mustard Seed Humanist School. After telling him about my family circumstances and ambitions he arranged for me to apply for a place at his school. From that point on, my life and fortunes were transformed. My father was delighted by the idea of me joining the mighty Mustard Seed Humanist School in Busota.
I joined the school at the beginning of the third term of my senior five in 2014. Joining a new environment could be difficult, but as a new student of Mustard Seed I was made to feel at home by teachers and fellow students. Mustard Seed is a happy school with very good relations among staff and students.
In 2015 when I entered senior six, my father fell sick. He was admitted to hospital and was on sick bed for some good months. Everything our family owned, such as land and livestock were sold to pay hospital bills. When my father died, I lost hope, but the school was marvelous. They stepped in immediately and waived my fees so that I could complete my A-level studies in Agriculture, Entrepreneurship, Geography with subsidiary Computing. I am so grateful to the school Director, Mr. Moses Kamya, and the entire school for giving me the opportunity to complete my secondary education.
The favorable learning environment, good teaching staff and the well-equipped library at Mustard Seed School enabled me to gain three A-levels with grades C, D and E, which were very high at the time for a rural school in Uganda. Although I was one of the top students in 2015, I was unable to join University immediately and had to spend a full year looking for money to pay university fees.
I met great teachers, mentors and advisors at Mustard Seed, who have tremendously changed my life. After completing my A-levels, the staff were still there for me. My agriculture teacher, Mr. Samuel Ikendi, found me a three-month contract with an NGO where he was working. While working in the NGO, I made very many friends, both Ugandans and Americans. One day, an American guy asked me my highest level of education and after telling him, he decided to sponsor my university education. I am now completing a four-year B.Sc. degree course in Agriculture at Busoga University. Due to the strong academic foundation I gained at Mustard Seed School, I have coped well with university-level studies. My current Collective Grade Point Average (CGPA) is 4.45 out of 5 and I am currently finalising my final research project with an NGO in Kamuli and Mr. Ikendi is my field supervisor. I have been told to expect to graduate with a first-class honours degree.
I attribute my success to the solid academic grounding I gained at Mustard Seed School and would like to extend my sincere and heart-felt appreciation to the entire Mustard Seed Humanist School, Busota for having shaped me to what I am now.
Long live Mustard Seed Humanist School and its motto: “Commit to Excel”
David Banige