Due to their growing reputation for good educational standards and high levels of student satisfaction and welfare, the schools are growing fast and either at, or very close to, their target sizes of 600 students. Existing infrastructure is good, though that built a few years ago is in need of repair and repainting.
We have worked out what each school needs to cater well for the needs of 600 student and are launching an appeal for a final few buildings, including:
two hostels where needy students can live and study in a safe environment
a multi-purpose hall for assemblies, music, dance, drama, dining and examination
two Library & Information Centres for independent resource-based learning
two labs for computer studies
We are preparing the ground for holding an International Humanist Education Conference in Uganda in the 3rd week of January, 2020. The conference will be an opportunity to showcase the achievement of the schools by bringing conference participants to spend some time at each of the schools. Some UHST supporters might wish to plan to visit Uganda to combine a visit to the schools with a wildlife safari. Uganda is becoming a popular tourist destination.
We really appreciate your ongoing support for the Humanist Schools in Uganda and we are delighted that the effort we have all made together is coming to fruition. We would really appreciate your help in this big push, coinciding with the 10th Anniversary of UHST, to finish off the schools so they can continue to provide high standards of education and welfare for all the students within them. There is a growing self-confidence in the schools and a real sense of pride in which we should all share.
We are currently preparing publicity fliers, which we will try to get out to as many people as possible and we welcome any ideas you, or any groups you belong to, may have to help us reach our target of £150,000. To set this in perspective, in 2017 we raised £125,000, including a substantial amount in scholarships.
Moses Kamya, the Mustard Seed School Director, has just sent the following report of progress at the school over the past year:
“The support of Uganda Humanist Schools Trust (UHST) has enabled the Mustard Seed School Busota to continuously transform; not just in infrastructure and facilities, but also the lives of learners therein. Scholarships enabled over 60 bright but financially disadvantaged children to attain education that would have been beyond their reach.
In the 2017 UCE “O-level” UNEB results, we gained 12 first grades, 6 of whom were on UHST scholarships. In A-level, our best student scored 14 points and had been on a UHST scholarship through out her secondary schooling. Joan is now pursuing a B.A. degree course at university.
UHST provided all girls with reusable sanitary pads which has tremendously improved retention of girls in school. The steady supply of text books, science materials and equipment have been responsible for continuous academic improvements at our school. Solar systems donated by UHST enable students in the boarding section to study even when mains power goes off, as it often does. Our children are happy at this development.
The RISO graphics printer now allows students to have printed handouts at minimum cost. Additional computers have made IT education fun for the whole school not just for passing of UNEB exams but for computer literacy, general education and as a leisure activity for the whole school.
Most importantly, we have been able to take out long-term leases on all school land, except for one plot remaining, with legal fees met by UHST. The school now has safe piped water supplied by national water which has greatly improved on hygiene and sanitation.
The Four class room block at the lower campus(football field) funded by UHST has allowed us to reduce class sizes. Furthermore, the entire campus is fenced with chain link for children’s security.
In spite of the above developments, Mustard Seed School continues to face challenges:
The computer room is still small and needs a bigger space to allow it serve its intended purpose.
The same applies to the existing library.
Dormitories are no longer enough for the children.
A multi purpose hall is needed to have children served meals from one place as opposed to eating from dormitories, and to use for school meetings, concerts and examinations.
Nonetheless, we shall reach there. We are grateful to all our supporters for standing with us in helping the Mustard Seed School Busota provide Humanist education to children in Uganda.”
Mustard Seed Schools sits in a deeply religious community, both Christian and Moslem. It has therefore tried not to alienate the parents and families of its students. There have been periods when religious symbols have been banned in school, but these days the school takes a more tolerant stance towards private adherence to religious faith. It does expect students to show mutual understanding, though proselytising by any group is against the school rules and last year a student actively promoting extreme evangelical views was asked to leave the school.
As the quality of the school infrastructure and educational standards have grown, its standing in the local community has increased and it is becoming the school of choice for local families. As a result, Moses Kamya has made the decision to make more effort to publicise the school’s Humanist ethos to members of the local community. In a recent email he wrote:
Cutting grass to deter snakes in local town
“Ever since the conclusion of the UHST/IHEU funded Humanist Ethos Project, Humanist principles have been embedded in the day-to-day management of Mustard Seed School. In common with the other Humanist Schools in Uganda we encourage positive discipline, based upon the principles of empathy and responsibility to the wider community rather than upon physical punishment, which is so common in many other Ugandan schools.
The principles of Humanism are set out in inspiring posters, which are placed prominently around the school, including the Headteacher’s office, reception, bursar’ office, staffroom, library, dormitories, computer lab and clinic. Guidelines for promoting positive discipline, emphasising guidance and not violence, are equally displayed on walls everywhere.
Litter picking in Busota town
A humanist counsellor, Simon Bogere supports students in the school by promoting Humanist ideas and being patron to the Humanist Student Club and helping it to carry out good works in the local community. The Humanist Counsellor is also a member of the student-staff disciplinary committee. The Humanist Club meets every Friday and Sunday to have discussions and debates on social issues and to carry out voluntary work around the school and in the community. Recent work by the group has included litter picking in the nearby town and local tree planting.
The school’s Humanist Counsellor, Simon Bogere, is currently enrolled on an online course to train him as a humanist celebrant, which is funded by the Humanist Society of Scotland in collaboration with the Chair of Uganda Humanist Association (UHASSO), Kato Mukasa. Once the training is completed, the school will be offering Humanist wedding, funeral and baby naming ceremonies to the local community. A newly designed hall, which is being funded by Uganda Humanist Schools Trust, will be an ideal venue for such events. The school’s Humanist Club also intends to organise humanist outreach programs to teach our communities basic hygiene practices and to highlight the dangers of believing in superstition and witchcraft.”
Posted: July 17, 2018 by Steve Hurd
UHST 10th Anniversary £150,000 Building Appeal
We have worked out what each school needs to cater well for the needs of 600 student and are launching an appeal for a final few buildings, including:
Posted: June 11, 2018 by Steve Hurd
Mustard Seed School makes great strides
“The support of Uganda Humanist Schools Trust (UHST) has enabled the Mustard Seed School Busota to continuously transform; not just in infrastructure and facilities, but
also the lives of learners therein. Scholarships enabled over 60 bright but financially disadvantaged children to attain education that would have been beyond their reach.
In the 2017 UCE “O-level” UNEB results, we gained 12 first grades, 6 of whom were on UHST scholarships. In A-level, our best student scored 14 points and had been on a UHST scholarship through out her secondary schooling. Joan is now pursuing a B.A. degree course at university.
UHST provided all girls with reusable sanitary pads which has tremendously improved retention of girls in school. The steady supply of text books, science materials and equipment have been responsible for continuous
academic improvements at our school. Solar systems donated by UHST enable students in the boarding section to study even when mains power goes off, as it often does. Our children are happy at this development.
The RISO graphics printer now allows students to have printed handouts at minimum cost. Additional computers have made IT education fun for the whole school not just for passing of UNEB exams but for
computer literacy, general education and as a leisure activity for the whole school.
Most importantly, we have been able to take out long-term leases on all school land, except for one plot remaining, with legal fees met by UHST. The school now has safe piped water supplied by national water which has greatly improved on hygiene and sanitation.
The Four class room block at the lower campus(football field) funded by UHST has allowed us to reduce class sizes. Furthermore, the entire campus is fenced with chain link for children’s security.
In spite of the above developments, Mustard Seed School continues to face challenges:
Nonetheless, we shall reach there.
We are grateful to all our supporters for standing with us in helping the Mustard Seed School Busota provide Humanist education to children in Uganda.”
Posted: May 20, 2018 by Steve Hurd
Mustard Seed School proclaims its Humanist Vision
As the quality of the school infrastructure and educational standards have grown, its standing in the local community has increased and it is becoming the school of choice for local families. As a result, Moses Kamya has made the decision to make more effort to publicise the school’s Humanist ethos to members of the local community. In a recent email he wrote:
“Ever since the conclusion of the UHST/IHEU funded Humanist Ethos Project, Humanist principles have been embedded in the day-to-day management of Mustard Seed School. In common with the other Humanist Schools in Uganda we encourage positive discipline, based upon the principles of empathy and responsibility to the wider community rather than upon physical punishment, which is so common in many other Ugandan schools.
The principles of Humanism are set out in inspiring posters, which are placed prominently around the school, including the Headteacher’s office, reception, bursar’ office, staffroom, library, dormitories, computer lab and clinic. Guidelines for promoting positive discipline, emphasising guidance and not violence, are equally displayed on walls everywhere.
A humanist counsellor, Simon Bogere supports students in the school by promoting Humanist ideas and being patron to the Humanist Student Club and helping it to carry out good works in the local community. The Humanist Counsellor is also a member of the student-staff disciplinary committee. The Humanist Club meets every Friday and Sunday to have discussions and debates on social issues and to carry out voluntary work around the school and in the community. Recent work by the group has included litter picking in the nearby town and local tree planting.
The school’s Humanist Counsellor, Simon Bogere, is currently enrolled on an online course to train him as a humanist celebrant, which is funded by the Humanist Society of Scotland in collaboration with the Chair of Uganda Humanist Association (UHASSO), Kato Mukasa. Once the training is completed, the school will be offering Humanist wedding, funeral and baby naming ceremonies to the local community. A newly designed hall, which is being funded by Uganda Humanist Schools Trust, will be an ideal venue for such events. The school’s Humanist Club also intends to organise humanist outreach programs to teach our communities basic hygiene practices and to highlight the dangers of believing in superstition and witchcraft.”