History:
In May 2007 we purchased a small private school in the village after the death of the owner. There were about 75 children enrolled. Today there are 210 students – 7 classes from kindergarten (P1) to sixth class (P7) with a maximum 35 children per class – including both day scholars and boarders. The school was given a new name to reflect its sponsorship by some members of St Alban’s Church, Leura – it is called St Alban’s Primary School, Ibulanku, Uganda.
Many of the original students were orphans and fees were not possible so these were sponsored through the St Alban’s Leura congregation and members of the community. The original school buildings were dilapidated and insufficient for a growing primary school so plans were drawn up for two teaching blocks with 4 classrooms in each. They were constructed in 2009 and 2012 with one block having a Headmaster’s office and small reception area in the centre and the other block has one room for girl boarders. So in effect there are 7 classrooms for the seven primary years. A house adjacent to the school was also purchased as a Headmaster residence but this has since been changed to accommodate boy boarders with a small separate room for the boys’ housemaster.
A borehole and pump has replaced the previous “rope and bucket” well, and a chain link fence has been erected round the school with gates that are locked when the school is closed.
In 2007, the younger children were learning to write in the dirt as exercise books were considered too expensive. This was unsatisfactory so money was sent to buy slates for writing practice. Of course this has now changed and all class teachers have access to a class blackboard with the students using pen, pencils and exercise books.
School times are 7.30 AM till 5 PM daily with P3 – P7 childres also attending on Saturday mornings. Boarders and nearby day students have additional classes from 5.30 – 6.30 AM and 7 – 9 PM on weekdays.
The first primary 7 class sat the government Primary Leaving Exmination (PLE) in 2009 and the results were pleasing. Two pupils achieved a Grade 2 pass and 9 achieved Grade 3. There was one failure. The 2011 results were even better with a girl achieving Grade 1 and she was then sponsored by the Leura committee into secondary school as a boarder; 12 pupils achieved Grade 2, 8 Grade 3 and again 1 failed; 2 of our sponsored children were among the Grade 2 achievers. Grade 1 results are now being achieved each year with 1 in 2012, 4 in 2012, 1 in 2013, 3 in 2014, 2 in 2015, 3 in 2016, 2 in 2017. All the Division (grade) 1 students have been sponsored into secondary school through support from the committee and some members of the local community who take on an individual student.
Headmaster Mukasa Fred who has both bachelor and masters qualifications was appointed in 2010 and his contribution has been significant in recruiting and nurturing quality teachers who have contributed to the improving academic performance of the school. The primary school teaching structure in Uganda requires a class teacher having responsibility for the students but each of the four main subjects are taught by a specialist teacher.
Since 2011 the Blue Mountains Grammar School at Wentworth Falls has been donating funds from their annual 45 kilometre Charity Walk and this has enabled significant investment in physical resources for the school. Some of what has been achieved include – separate toilet facilities for both boys, girls and staff; solar lighting in all classrooms; a lockable storage cupboard in each classroom; textbooks for all students in classes P3 through P7 for English, Mathematics, Social Studies and Science; costumes for the music and drama curriculum; reading books for the English department; school registration; Education Department licence and examination centre official number; a new enclosed kitchen with clay cooking stoves and adjacent storeroom; new beds for boarders; lightning rod for storm protection; sporting equipment; professional development and upgrading of qualifications for teachers; individual desks and chairs for P6 and P7 students; a library of dictionaries, atlases and reading books.
Through a donation in early 2016, the school introduced a “Reading, Writing and Comprehension” programme with a dedicated teacher, Dorine, who had upgraded her teaching certificate level specialising in this area. Although English is the national language, our location in a very poor region means English language skills often cannot cope well with exam questions and early indications are that this programme is already having positive results. The other teachers are seeing the benefit in their classes. Amongst the good results in the PLE in 2016 there were 5 distinctions in Social Studies, 3 in English and one in Mathematics. We are looking for this to improve with the programme continuing into 2017.
40 students are currently sponsored as day scholars – i.e. the annual school fee of $AUD105 is donated in January and pays for uniform, scholastic materials, lunch daily and tuition for one child for the whole year. In addition the Leura committee and some local supporters sponsor the PLE Grade 1 students into secondary school as boarders – currently 13 students with the most senior doing her ‘A’ level year (HSC equivalent).
The financial affairs of the school have been closely monitored and addressed during the last 4 years – prior to 2012, budgets were haphazard, teachers paid irregularly, school fees not pursued – it was difficult to plan from year to year. There is now an annual budget approved by the mandatory School Management Committee, shared with the staff and balanced. The annual financial accounts have been audited now for three years which is very important as much funding is from donations and this requires strong accountability and transparency. A qualified young university graduate (studying for her Chartered Practicing Accountant qualification) was employed through the Health Centre in 2014 with some of her responsibilities being for the school as well as the health centre and this was an enormous help in both making the school financially accountable but also generating more understanding within the school of the need for prudent recording of receipts and payments – not something that was practiced earnestly in the early years.
One of our committee members who has been instrumental in “managing” the school has spent at least one month there each year since 2009 (sometimes twice a year) and will be making his last visit later in 2017. It is hoped the school will from the beginning of term 1, 2018 be self sustaining and self managing with the donation from the BMGS charity walk being able to maintain the improvements in quality resources and facilities for this wonderful project.
If you would like and are able to help in making a difference for children in this poor region of Uganda, an annual sponsorship costs just $AUD110 for a day student at the primary school and $AUD750 for a secondary student as a boarder.
THE CURRENT SITUATION
As stated earlier, the ‘reading, writing and comprehension’ programme, taught to all classes from P3 by Madam Auma Dorine, is having a positive effect on the academic standards of the school. The Primary Leaving Exam (PLE) is a government exam which all students must sit at the end of their primary schooling. The 2018 results published in January 2019 created a most welcome ‘headache’ for the committee – SIX division 1 and 22 division 2 out of the class of 28 students – by far the best ever result for the school. We now had to find sponsors for six students as boarders at Iganga High School where we have decided to send all our top achievers since meeting the Head of this school on his brief visit to Sydney in 2017.
All six have been supported in 2019 individually outside of the committee. To give these young people from such a poor area in a third world country the opportunity to be able to have a good secondary education is something that appeals to many in our society. Since two members of our small (8) committee moved to a retirement village in Sydney in 2014 support from fellow retirees there has been forthcoming including the village Chapel congregation – both Protestant and Roman Catholic.
Being located in a very poor part of Uganda (many children describe their parents/guardians as peasants) the fee situation has been difficult over the years, impacting on the school’s ability to pay and retain quality teachers, upgrade facilities, pay for professional staff development, etc. The school has been working on this issue diligently and at the end of term 3 this year there was no outstanding fee in two of the seven classes – this is truly a remarkable achievement. This year has been significant for other reasons.
A donation from a Sydney northern beaches resident was the catalyst to build a new girls’ boarding dormitory which was completed during the year. She and her husband then travelled to the school for Speech Day in October and officially opened the building and unveiled plaques recognising the contributions of the Lukabyo family, a retired lady who provided funding for 4 teacher room accommodations in 2017 and the Blue Mountains Grammar School (Wentworth Falls) for their annual donation allowing upgrade of facilities and additional resourcing for the school – which receives no government assistance.
The term 3 secondary school reports have just been distributed to sponsors – all the individually sponsored students are doing well and deserve support again in 2020 and we are hoping this will be the case – with fees set at $750 for the full year as a boarder it is so reasonable compared to our situation in Australia but still can be a struggle for pensioner/retirees. We monitor all sponsored students progress and some were told early in 2019 that their support would be withdrawn if their efforts were less than division 1 or 2 at the end of year. Two have since been advised this is the case with their performance. Resources are limited and there are more requesting sponsorship both primary and secondary than we can physically provide.
Updated – John Sowden, 28 December, 2019 – for Ibulanku Aid Fund International