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Schools in Mbale
Below are details of some schools in Mbale Dristict which have been linked with schools in Pontypridd.
Pupils were not in school but some had come in to welcome us. There were 6 class-rooms and one in the church. Four of the class-rooms had been provided by the Government. Parents would build rooms up to window height, then the government would fund the rest. Some class-rooms had no desks.
The school had no electricity, gas, or running water. They had toilets (latrines). A cubicle with a hole on the concrete slab floor. The government had provided the seating, (this in some cases was just the floor), and each Friday the children brought in cow-dung to dress the floor.
There were some textbooks (sharing 1 between about 6 was norm). Not all the children we saw were in uniform. There was evidence of some teaching materials. There was a good relationship with parents who provided exercise books and pens for their children. Some used slate and chalk. Class-rooms had built in chalk boards. No lunch provided. Class sizes 60 120. No duplicating facilities. All curriculum material, duty lists, staffing, notices, hand written and displayed on wall in heads room.
Very similar to Nashera. It had 750 pupils whose age ranged from 5 to 18. There were 14 teachers. (Pupil teacher ratio 1-54) Once again we were greeted and welcomed in song. The children had a very long walk to the nearest bore hole for water. The buildings were very similar to the previous school. We had the same stories of lack of facilities.
Of the staff of 26, 2 live in. 444 pupils Age range 15 - 22 The buildings had glass in some of the windows. They are hoping for electricity next year and computers.. They desperately need more laboratories. There is no dining room. They eat outside. One of the maths staff lived in. They did have a Resources assistant, a Bursar, a Secretary and a Lab Assistant. The school offered A levels in Art, English, Economics, History, Geography, Divinity, and it was hoped Science next year. The storeroom for all the school was a small cupboard. Average Class size 60. They had no facilities for Home Economics, woodwork, or metalwork.
By far the poorest of all the schools we saw. The rooms were bare. Nothing to sit on but the floor. Classes of over 100. Where the staff meals were prepared was a rusted corrugated lean-to. Some class-rooms did not even have a level floor.
This is a secondary school (Anglican) with 310+ pupils. 22 teachers. Age range 15 22 They charge 34,900 Ugandan Shillings (£10.50) a term fees, and an extra 10,000 (£3) for lunch. It was in a very poor area. Pupils study a minimum of 8 subjects, usually 9. There is an option system. At the end of stage exams they are awarded distinction for over 75% either D1 or D2, or credit C3, C4, C5, C6, or pass, P7 ,P8 or fail F9.
The school offered A level in Geography, Economics, History, Divinity, Finance, Maths, and Swahili. Average class size 40 45. They had their own bore-hole for water. They play Netball, Football and Athletics. They have their own Chaplain. Extra Curricula activities include Christian Union, Red Cross and Scouting. They too are hoping for electricity. They had duplicating facilities, a hand operated Gestetner ink model. The lay out and questions on a maths paper were similar to what we would have set 35 to 40 years ago.
A school with boarding facilities. 32 teachers for 1157 pupils aged 15 to 22. offering O and A level. School starts at 8.00 and ends at 4.00. There are 6 lessons a day. The fees per term are 26000 (£8) plus 20 kg maize + 5 kg beans. For boarders the fees were increased to 50kg maize and 15kg beans. Fees can be paid by instalment. The boarding dormitories held 100 in triple bunks.(No mosquito nets) One room had battery lights in which they could study. The cooking facility was a shed with an open fire and large cooking pots. Extra curricula activities included Football, Volleyball, Debating, Scripture Union. One class had 119 pupils in it. Carbon paper as a means of obtaining copies of reports, etc.
A very poor school near the Kenyan border. 20 teachers for 500 pupils. Age range 15 22 Offering only O level. No desks in any of the rooms we visited. Some class-rooms had grass growing out of the floor. No roof on some rooms. Very limited resources. Boarding facilities.
24 teachers for 980 pupils aged 5 to 18. This school was visited by the Medics. Written information was supplied by the Headteacher.
Copyright PONT 2006