"Imparting the knowledge of life skills using a fun day out to enhance and change in life style"
The Problem
Universal Primary Education (UPE) was introduced in Uganda in 1997 with the express aim of improving "access, equity and quality" in primary school education. Due to UPE, enrolment in our partner schools has tripled in the past five years. This huge increase in pupils per school has resulted in very high pupil to teacher ratios together with an inadequate number of trained teachers and a severe lack of teaching aids, equipment and educational resources. Subsequently, the quality of learning in UPE schools has been reported to be poor. The poor quality and consistency of education provided in partner schools is evidenced through the poor exam results achieved by pupils and high drop-out rates.
Solution and Aims
To enable schools to counteract the negative aspects of UPE with the provision of innovative teaching methods, educational resources and teaching aids relevant to the primary school curriculum whilst also focusing classes on life skills such as sustainable agricultural practice, malaria awareness and sexual reproductive health.
The project aims to increase knowledge and retention of life skills and curriculum based subjects for Primary class 6 (P6) students, thereby increasing self-esteem, motivation, confidence, performance and participation of students, in particular empowerment of female students. The outcome of these improving factors should be to promote interest in education and to encourage pupils to continue with education. In addition to the positive aspects passed on to the pupils, the project aims to build the capacity and skills of teachers from partnering schools
The Project
Our project will meet the needs brought about by the introduction of UPE by bringing all P6 pupils from 26 partner schools to the AEC for 2 separate day-long visits. Sessions are carried out in the following departments:
- Art
Observational drawing, colour mixing and enhancing creative skills using local materials (charcoal) and water colours.
- ICT
Discovery of a computer; finding information through an online encyclopaedia related to local topics such as sanitation and the water cycle then summarising this on paper; learning new words through an online dictionary and learning how to get information from the PC to paper (printing).
- Science
Health and sanitation focusing on seeing clean and dirty water through a microscope; hand washing - building local hand washing facilities at the schools called 'Tip Taps' (these remain at the school for use), first aid; the reproductive cycle and menstruation. The pupils learn how to make a sanitary pad out of local materials.
- English Story Telling (through Library)
Story telling using imagination, discovery of information/fact finding, promoting malaria prevention and treatment through story telling.
- Agriculture
Setting up demonstration gardens with pupils; teaching double dug farming techniques; nursery bed construction; organic pesticides and fertilisation/composting.
- Drama
Boosting self-esteem and self confidence; promoting nutrition, family planning (spacing of children for mothers' health) and family communication through role play and games.
Everything at the AEC from attendance to enjoyment is closely monitored to ensure we are achieving the goals we set out to accomplish. Our hope is that eventually the centre will have a direct influence on the pupils' lives in terms of the choices they make in life.
Classes are designed to boost self-esteem and enable pupils to experience a practical and hands on approach to learning. In order to give pupils an opportunity to use equipment that they haven't experienced before, during sessions they have a chance to use educational resources such microscops, live bacteria, computer lab equipment, paints, a theatre with a stage, walking on stairs and reading books.
Linked with the Primary School Pupils Project is the P6 Parents Club, which is part of our Community Development Programme - for more details on this project, click here.
Volunteering Opportunities
Unfortunately, due to the language skills required for working with primary school pupils on this specific project we are unable to offer specific teaching as a volunteer opportunity. However, you are more than welcome to assist with reading in the Library Sessions and assisting in the ICT lab - helping pupils to find their way around the computers. For other volunteer opportunities, click here.