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'Technophobia' in Ugandan Education Sector Overcome Thanks to Corona Lockdown
Dorothy KYAMAZIMA | 03/11/2022
During the corona pandemic, schools in Uganda were closed for almost two years. A small - Belgian - innovation to be able to continue to communicate eventually led to a digital revolution in Ugandan teacher training. Before the outbreak of Covid-19, an education official in the district bordering Uganda's capital Kampala banned teachers from bringing computers, mobile phones and tablets into classrooms. The official, Frederick Kiyingi, at the time believed that telephones and ICT devices were distracting students and jeopardizing their concentration. The whole world around me TeacherWilliam Musaazi sees it differently. 'With this smartphone, I can get around the world at the touch of a button. And that saves me a lot of effort. At the same time, it makes my lessons interesting. It's like a captivating movie, but with multimedia," said Musaazi. 'The days of teaching from the abstract are over. We need to bring the real world to the students, preferably at no extra cost," he adds. The Ugandan Ministry of Education has made efforts to equip schools with desktop computers, but Musaazi realizes that there is no national strategy for getting ICT infrastructure into schools. He says he keeps the devices out of the classroom for fear of going against existing guidelines. In addition, he notices that many of his colleagues often only used mobile phones and tablets for calling and texting. Distance Learning Strategy In March 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced a measure that brought learning to a halt. Schools and universities were closed for almost two years, with 15 million students without education. The Ugandan Ministry of Education proposed to give lessons via radio and television, but that has not worked. The Belgian development agency Enabel, together with the ministry, developed a strategy for distance learning. The result was ' TTE Sandbox ', a digital portal that enabled at least teacher training to continue. Workshops taught at the five National Teachers' Colleges (NTCs), where teachers are trained, the use of technology in the classroom – rather than just the traditional methods. The students learned how to use digital tools – such as screencasting, podcasting, video conferencing, e-books or padlets – to teach. The strategy was also rolled out to prevent the Ugandan education sector from becoming extinct and disadvantaged after the prolonged period of closure. Technophobia Technophobia Ironically, Enabel had already proposed the use of technology to the NTCs in 2019, but experienced teachers were reluctant, recalls Virginie Hallet, manager at Enabel in Uganda. “They said they were born before the age of computers, and they didn't know anything about it. So why would they use it in class?', said Hallet. Andrew Tabura, a government official responsible for secondary teacher education, explains that although the colleges were equipped with ICT tools, the teachers had a "technophobia." But the necessary training has thawed everything out. 'When the covid closure was a fact, they realized that these tools could still be used to reach the students,' says Tabura. Defibrillator for Education Hallet explains that TTE Sandbox was initially a set of communication technologies to facilitate distance learning at the NTCs. However, it gradually became an effective tool, to the extent that it helped to speed up the resumption of educational activities. According to Virginie Hallet, 62 per cent of students who were at home in different parts of Uganda were able to attend classes. 'It meant that the training could continue. I think we had similar student participation in Belgium in June 2020', says Hallet. The Sandbox, she said, made the minds mature for using technology in the classroom. At the NTC in Kabale, 400 kilometers south of Kampala, teachers are still using the TTE Sandbox and other online tools to teach aspiring teachers almost a year after the colleges reopened. One cold morning, professor Molly Nakimera is teaching her. The auditorium is equipped with an overhead projector and a set of speakers. A number of cables connecting to a laptop computer are visible. Nakimera projects a role-playing video about education management. Then the class is invited to comment and contribute to the created scenarios. Nakimera says it would normally take more than three weeks to complete this course. But with the help of videos and podcasts, she achieves a better result and is less time-consuming. 'I teach a very large class. I used to have to yell a lot as a teacher. I regularly couldn't even finish the syllabus," she says. She says that her ICT knowledge used to be limited to typing Word documents. She knew nothing about podcasting and making educational videos. For her, the smartphone was meant for making calls and checking emails. Now she realizes that it is a small computer in her bag, and also a teaching and learning tool. 'These are new things that make me feel more stimulated, that make my work easier. I feel it makes me more professional," said Nakimera. Zoom and Google Classroom Mujungu Herbert, a physics and math teacher at NTC Kabale, says that before the pandemic, teachers mostly used chalk, their voice, and occasionally lab or environmental materials in their classes. 'With the ICT equipment I notice that the students are more active during the lessons. Education is more student-oriented than teacher-oriented', explains Mujungu. When asked why he hadn't embraced the technology earlier, he replied that he and his colleagues saw no reason to. The existing pedagogy did not say a word about it either. 'I only came to a computer when I was preparing for an exam. Before the pandemic, I had never heard of Zoom. But while we were in lockdown, we realized that we could only access our students with the help of ICT tools," says Mujungu. “We've started using Zoom for virtual meetings, there are some applications that I've started using to record my own screen. Then I got to know tools like Google Classroom to teach an online class,” he adds. Google Classroom allowed students to virtually participate in lessons, create tests and tasks, and follow them in an interactive way. He does add that students who do not have access to the internet miss classes. Even those who do not have a smartphone or tablet have more difficulty accessing online resources. This article was originally written by Michael Wambi from Inter Press Service (IPS), a news agency providing news from the Global South present in more than 400 locations.
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In Uganda, Enabel boosts Acholi region Blood Bank collect over 800 blood units
Agnes KABAIKYA | 21/10/2022
Fred is a senior six candidate at Reverend Jabuloni Isoke Secondary School in Kitgum district, northern Uganda waiting to sit his final exams. Despite his busy schedule, Fred will always get time to donate blood because of his childhood experience. This is his fifth time to donate. Fred says his mother told him that while he was 3 years old, during the time of the Lord’s Resistance Army war that ravaged northern for over 2 decades, he got severe malaria and was admitted at Kitgum government hospital. The doctors at the hospital told her mother, her son needed blood and that the hospital did not have any. As her mother was still pondering and taking in news of an impending outcome if she does not find a blood donor to save his son, luckily there were two men walking around the hospital compound and when she narrated to them her plea, they accepted to donate their blood. That’s how Fred’s life was saved and that is his motivation to donate blood every time he gets a chance to save a life, just like his was saved by a stranger. The inspiration of Ronald Joyce Idiba, a senior three student at the same school is not different from Fred’s. Ronald a fourth time blood donor says his young brother always gets severe malaria and is in need of blood. So whenever he presents his blood donation card, they give him free blood and that motivates me to donate blood every time he gets a chance. For Ochora Winfred, a 19-year student in S3 has a brother with sickle cells who always needs blood whenever he runs out of blood. That’s why I also give blood to save others. From the many of the blood donors I interacted with, many give blood for lifetime experiences themselves have experienced or their relatives. Akena Robinson a senior six student says, he will continue donating blood because he is surviving on someone’s blood. Akena says his mother told him at 2 years old, he got malaria and I needed blood and because someone else donated blood to save his life, he will keep donating. This was his fourth time to donate. To Lamwaka Dorcas, it is because of his grandfather who has diabetes and sometimes needs blood. Others think about what would befall them in future. To Lakot Monica, I want to save someone life by donating blood because even me when I fall sick someone else will donate their blood. This is my 3rd time to donate blood and will continue donating more. To others most especially students, they say by donating blood at a tender age, that’s the best they can give back to the world to save a life. To others they want to give back to humanity through donating blood. Akera Alfred Lukwata says, he is convinced that giving blood is good, you give back to humanity such that, that good ness will come back to you when yourself need the blood. Enabel recently supported a blood donation drive in Acholi region. The drive targeted mainly secondary schools and tertiary institutions. The week-long exercise collected a total of 827 units. According to Dr. Gerald Rukundo, the Director Lango/Acholi region Blood Bank, there is a high prevalence of malaria in Acholi region and this calls for high demand of blood, yet people in the region reluctantly donate blood. This calls for mass mobilisation and sensitisation to be done in the region. Dr. Gerald says, every day they receive over 150 requests of blood units, but they can only issue-out 60 units daily. Lacor hospital alone is given 40 units out of the 60 units disbursed daily from Gulu region blood bank. Human beings need blood to be alive. It is pumped by the heart to all parts of the body, after which it is returned to the heart to repeat the process. Blood is therefore important in transporting oxygen and nutrients to the cells and carries away carbon dioxide and other waste products.
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Innovation Booklet TTE Project Uganda
Dorothy KYAMAZIMA | 11/10/2022
A booklet about the Teacher Training Education (TTE) project innovations and successes in the National Teachers' Colleges in Uganda. Click here: https://bit.ly/3Vd7iRX
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Early Childhood Development Centres in Uganda
Dorothy KYAMAZIMA | 05/10/2022
Over the project's lifetime, we have realised the need to support students and teachers in attaining further education while balancing their roles as new parents. We have established an Early Childhood Development (ECD) centre in each college to ensure that staff and students work or pursue their studies with the assurance that their children are safe and well-catered for. The ECDs are designed according to climate-responsive design principles and equipped with furniture to support active teaching and learning.
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Uganda: Regional maintenance team builds capacity of health workers at lower health facilities
Agnes KABAIKYA | 29/09/2022
For a health facility to provide all-round quality services, they should have in place the right equipment functioning optimally. For this reason, to promote appropriate use, regular repair is critical to increase lifespan, decrease break downs as well as reduce losses and wastages. The Regional maintenance teams are required to provide routine maintenance and backstopping of equipment at health Centre IVs, and with the ongoing implementation of the Belgian supported Leveraging Strategic Health Financing for Universal Health (LSF) project, this support has been extended to even HC IIIs in the region. This preventive and curative maintenance of equipment requires the team at the regional hospital to make regular visits to health centre IVs and IIIs, as they provide training to health workers to be able handle basic equipment. Robin Barugahare, the User trainer based at the Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital affirms. This is because most of the equipment faults at HCIVs are due to lack of skills especially on how to operate the machines, use and maintenance. Sometimes they claim a machine is not working and yet it is because they are not maintaining/handling them and sometimes using wrong cable/incompatible cables. Robin Barugahare confirms “we demonstrate basic skills to maintain basic equipment like an oxygen concentrator and how to set an incubator. Sometimes when the vacuum is not connected or the cable not fixed well, it may fail to function. To confirm the above, the Kyarusozi HC IV, Dr. Ruteganya, the In-Charge says they received 20 oxygen cylinders from NMS, and because they did not know how to operate them, they stayed in the store for 3 months before using them. On top of that they did not know how to fix the stabiliser for a mere lack of a plier to fix it until the team from the regional referral came to demonstrate how to fix it. Bagaya Shamilah, a nurse at Kyarusozi HC IV also relates that until the regional maintenance team demonstrated to them how to set temperature limits and connect the stabilisers on oxygen concentrators, they used to refer babies to Kyenjojo hospital because they did not know how to operate NICU equipment. Karungi Christine, Enrolled Nurse Kyarusozi HC IV confirms, now we are confidently using the oxygen concentrators and we can fix cylinder with a cylinder head. Sometimes it is to do with not knowing the correct use but when the maintenance teams show health workers the proper use, health workers confirm improved use. Some health workers openly share that they did not know that some machines use distilled water as confirmed by, Dr, Kayiri Joy Fred In-Charge Rukoki HCIV When we got the autoclave, we did not know it uses distilled water and for us we were using normal water until we were told and now it works well. Basic training in repairing/operating equipment, proves a multiplier effect to health facilities When the regional teams travel to carry out preventing repair maintenance, it is now a norm they do on-spot intentional training to health workers. This is proving to have a multiplier effect, first of all there is no delay/denial thus continuity of a service delivery to communities but also the health worker is learning a lifelong skill. Health workers can now testify that they are able to fix simple basic faults and maintain constant running of facility equipment. Allan Turyahabwe Theatre in charge Kyenjojo General Hospital testifies, there a time we had a challenge with a cylinder head and we did not know how to use it, so we were taught how to use it right. He says he can easily fix it and continue with autoclaving. I am able to regulate the flow of power, I can tell when it’s too much heat and reduce it. At times you can tell when the steam is escaping, there we stop the process and start again. Mbabazi Doreen, In-charge NICU Bwera hospital I am able to operate an oxygen concentrator, regulate the temperature and in-case it gets a fault, I can easily switch from the concentrator to the cylinder. When the monitor reads no oxygen flow, I can tell and fix it I can work well with sterilizers/oxygen concentrators. The regional maintenance team found our concentrators dirty and non-functional. They also taught me that I need to replace water for every patient Sr. Akugizibwe Hannah – In Charge Maternity Ward, Bundibugyo General Hospital. Health workers can now fix/solve minor equipment technical hitches thus able to continue with providing services and reducing fatalities. I can now fix an oxygen concentrator. I can also fix an oxygen cylinder and the cylinder head as well as measure the amount of oxygen to administer, sometimes we receive mothers with foetal distress and I am able to administer oxygen and save that baby’s life reminisces Teddy Kabatooro, Kenjojo Hospital.
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Uganda: The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Rwamwanja Health Centre saves babies
Agnes KABAIKYA | 29/09/2022
Chantal Uwimana, a Congolese National is joyful her 3 months’ son old is alive. The baby was delivered preterm at 7 months with 1.6 kgs. The baby was put in the incubator at the Rwamwanja New-born Intensive Care Unit (NICU) where new premature born babies and critically ill are placed for specialised care and management. Chantal who is all praises for the nurses at the NICU was discharged after 2 months to take care of her baby at home after the baby gained the acceptable weight of 2.8 kgs. She says had it not been the nurses at the NICU who cancelled her and assured her that her baby would survive, I almost died of pressure, Chantal recounts. Chantal’s story is not different for Kakuru Jacqueline, a Congolese national too living in Rwamwanja refugee settlement. Jacqueline developed malaria at 8 months and delivered her 2nd born prematurely at 8 months. The baby was 1 kg at birth. The baby was immediately placed in the new-born intensive care unit for care. After 2 weeks, she was discharged after her baby gained 2kgs. The baby is 7 months now. For Atuhaire Sharon’s miracle baby, Baby Elly was delivered on the way to hospital with 2.6 kgs. At births baby Elly could not cry like any other normal baby. On reaching Rwamwanja HC III and upon examination, the baby had a blocked airway, could breastfeed and breath well. A decision was made to place baby Elly in the new-born intensive care unit and be put on oxygen. After 2 weeks in the NICU, baby Elly started crying, breathing and moving his limbs. They were discharged and told to monitor him from home. Twinomujuni Ezra, the father is all praises for the midwives at Rwamwanja NICU for saving his son’s life. He says since then they have never gotten any health problem with baby Elly. He is now 6 months old. Background to Rwamwanja HC III Rwamwanja health centre is a high volume HC III, serving a big catchment area. It serves a total population of 87,304 people (42, 280 nationals and 45,024 refugees). The facility offers emergency obstetric surgical services and is a referral for the nearby heath centre IIIs. On average a month, Rwamwanja delivers a total of 380 babies. Some of these babies are born with complications and find themselves admitted into the new-born intensive care unit for specialised treatment and management. According to Musiime Prever, the midwife in-charge of the NICU, says on average they receive 30-60 neonatal complications managed at the facility NICU. Before the establishment of the NICU, all babies with complications used to be referred to Rukunyu hospital and Fort Portal hospital and used to lose a number of neonates en-route. Alex Mwesige, the in charge of Rwamwanja HC III, says before the establishment of the NICU (October 2021), most of the referral outs were neonates and we would lose many on the way before they reach Fort Portal referral hospital. Common issues managed in the NICU According to Prever the NICU in charge, out the 45 cases admitted to NICU in the month of July, only 7 cases were referrals from nearby health facilities, most of the other admitted babies are delivered at Rwamwanja and born preterm. In June, there were 22 nationals and 23 refugees admitted in NICU. Most babies admitted are born tired and require oxygen to support their lungs to breath well. Other cases have neonatal sepsis (babies who cannot breastfeed right away after birth), high fever and jaundice. Preterm babies spend between 1-2 weeks in NICU before their situation improves and are discharged. For babies are born with birth abnormalities, these are normally referred to Fort Portal referral hospital for further management. Rwamwanja HC III NICU has 2 incubators, 4 beds and several warmers, four midwives are attached to the facility and work in shifts. The ministry of health through the Uganda Reproductive Maternal Child Health Improvement Project and the Belgian supported Leveraging Strategic Health Financing for Universal Health (LSF) project are supporting the capacity of health facilities handle maternal and child emergencies. What other health workers at Rwamwanja HC III say about the NICU According to Arinaitwe Mary Usta, the midwife at Rwamwanja HC III attached to maternity, says they deliver about 12 mothers per day. And some babies are born with abnormal symptoms (cannot cry at birth, have abnormal breathing rate and pulse, some even develop high temperature and infections), we normally refer such cases to NICU for further management. Midwife Arinaitwe Usta further echoes how the NICU has saved babies lives and reduced the death rates. She says in the past some babies would die in maternity ward, others would die in transit to Rukunyu hospital.
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In Uganda, Enabel boosts maternal emergency referrals amid challenges in Acholi Region
Agnes KABAIKYA | 28/09/2022
Vicky Abalo 30 yrs lost her 6th baby on her way to hospital. She delivered along the way before she could reach the hospital. It was a complicated delivery, the baby coming with the leg and she bled heavily. Vicky was lucky the ambulance picked her and took her to Anaka hospital for immediate attention. According to Josephine Okumu, midwife in charge of maternity at Anaka Hospital, she says Vicky delayed to come to hospital and by the time she made the decision to come to hospital, it was late, she lost the baby during delivery. The midwife says, Vicky arrived with post-partum haemorrhage and was given more blood. Sarah Atim delivered a dead baby on her way before she could reach Langol Health Centre. she bled heavily during the delivery process. From Langol health facility she was referred to Anaka General Hospital for further specialised attention where she arrived with a retained placenta. On arrival at Anaka hospital, she was immediately taken to theatre and the placenta was removed. Kenneth Ojara, Ambulance Driver at Anaka General Hospital, confirms that the ambulance was called at 12.13 pm and he arrived in record time to pick her at 1.18 pm to save her life. The situation is not different for Eva Kiden 36 years, who also being attended to at Anaka hospital when I visited the hospital where she was assisted to deliver her 5th baby. She was referred to Anaka hospital with an abnormal lie of foetus and with foetal distress on a motorcycle from Gonycogo Health Centre, 40 kms away. She was referred on a motorcycle because she needed urgent specialised attention and the ambulance had taken long to arrive. Josephine Okumu, the midwife in charge of the maternity ward at Anaka Hospital confirms that, Eva arrived in labour with foetal distress and had a previous scar, she was immediately rushed to theatre. A mother with a previous scar is one who has delivered before through caesarean and there are high chances of delivering through the same, so she has to be referred to a higher health facility which has an operating theatre such that in case she fails to push the baby normally, then she can be rushed to theatre and have the baby removed. The above and many other such cases that go undetected are a few among the preventable complications mothers face during childbirth. Many have lost their lives in the process especially those who delay to reach hospital at the onset of labour. Although in the past five years’ institutional mortality ratio reduced from 108 to 92 per 100,000 deliveries, Ministry of Health Annual Health Sector Performance Report of 2020/21, indicate that, there are still many incidents of mothers dying during childbirth. In 2020/21, Uganda registered a total number of 1,228 maternal deaths as compared to 1,102 in 2019/20, an increase by 126 cases. In Acholi region alone, according to statistics in the national District Health Information System (DHIS2), in 2021, 45 lives of mothers were lost during childbirth processes, whilst this year, (by April 2022) 35 mothers lives have already been lost. By the end of year, these numbers are likely to go higher. Many of the maternal deaths are due to haemorrhage at 42%, followed by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy at 15%. Other indirect causes include malaria, HIV/AIDS, severe anaemia, Covid 19 as well as pregnancy related sepsis among others. Several of these deaths are due to failure to be detected in advance thus requiring referral to a higher health facility for better specialised management. And many of these complications that develop at the onset of labour, during or after delivery are preventable if detected and managed early by health workers, However, the challenge is many are detected and reported late, with not enough time left to save the mothers through referrals. Why timely management and access to quality care during pregnancy, child birth and after is critical in preventing maternal deaths Many would-be timely referrals are delayed due to the long distances on poor inaccessible roads mothers travel to the nearest health facilities at the onset of labour but also the unavailability of reliable ambulances makes it difficult to transfer mothers from health facilities in real time. Very often the unavailable health workers to attend to mothers who arrive with complications at health facilities makes timely referrals and assisted-child birth process, a wish for many mothers in vulnerable communities. The few available ambulances are overstretched and therefore are not available to pick mothers whenever they need them. At Atiak Health Centre IV, in Nwoya District, they have an ambulance donated by Enabel. However, they lack a driver to pick mothers with complications whenever they need the ambulance. The facility has one active Doctor without an Anaesthetic officer. The one available doctor again doubles as the facility administrator with additional administrative work, making it difficult for him to be in theatre to attend to mothers who arrive with complications needing urgent operation. Lamono, Nurse at Pawell HC II further explains the danger of not having enough human resources, “one time, I referred and travelled with a mother to Atiak, when we reached the health centre, the doctor on duty told me to continue in the same car with the patient to Lacor hospital”. Anything could have happened to that mother due to the delays we took to come to Atiak health centre and then to Lacor hospital. Enabel supports the referral system in Uganda The World Health Organization (WHO) defines referral as the process in which a health worker at one level of the health system, having insufficient resources (drugs, equipment, skills) to manage a clinical condition, seeks the assistance of a better or differently resourced facility at the same or higher level to assist in, or take over the management of, the client’s case. On ground the referral system is not effective as stipulated that the different levels of the system are supposed to reinforce and complement each other. This is due to lack of sufficient ambulances and fuel or both which prevents patients from quickly being transferred from one facility to another. Anaka hospital administrator explains the situation further. “Before Enabel gave us another ambulance recently, we only had one ambulance and mothers used to be referred on motorcycles. Josephine Okumu, midwife in charge of maternity ward at Anaka Hospital further argues that “mothers who arrive on motorcycles many of them arrive without referral notes and this means their complications are not documented and that takes time again for us begin the assessments afresh”. The referral system also faces the challenges of poor road networks because of poor terrain, ineffective communication system, inadequate emergency medicines and supplies including blood for transfusion. So most times, the referrals are never on time. Sometimes it is due to with the time the ambulance takes on the road to pick the patient. Enabel recently donated 3 ambulances to Amuru, Nwoya and Omoro districts to support transportation of critical patients from one health facility to another. It is our wish that the donated ambulances complement other efforts in the region. Enabel is also considering training drivers and other health workers in managing emergencies. Away from the ambulances, Enabel has been supporting health facilities in Acholi sub region with additional funding to purchase essential drugs and supplies thus minimising the unending drug stocks at health facilities. Enabel has also supplied health facilities with medical, lighting and IT equipment, all in the hope of addressing patients’ diagnosis, treatment and keeping and tracking patients’ records for easy follow up. Enabel also supports construction and renovation of health facilities so as to put in place the right conducive environment for health workers and communities to offer and receive appropriate treatment. Attitude of mothers on referrals. While many mothers are positive about referrals, others, aren’t. Sometimes mothers refuse referrals because they fear a caesarean. According to Auma – midwife Koch Goma, “mothers have a perception that when they are referred, they are always taken to the theatre for caesarean birth. So majority throw away referral notes once they are referred. “other mothers drop referral notes on the way because they think when they arrive with referral notes, they will straight be taken to the theatre for caesarean operation” – Midwife Amaro “Sometimes mothers refuse to be referred because they feel attached to midwives at health facilities where they have been attending their antenatal visits to assist them deliver their babies.Other mothers say they don’t have money to survive on in the hospital even when we tell them that not all conditions upon which we refer them lead to operation. In Uganda when you are admitted with any health condition, you are expected to have money and an attendant to cater for your personal requirements including meals, so mothers fear when referred to faraway facilities where they don’t have relatives to look after them as midwife Auma at Koch Goma narrates “The moment you mention a referral, attendants disappear and we cannot refer a mother without an attendant. In Uganda, a patient admitted for close monitoring requires a relative/attendant available to cater for the patient, unlike in other countries where it is done by hospital nurses. I found Adako 19 yrs old attending immunisation of her first born who was delivered at 5 months. She was all praises of the nurses at Koch Lee health facility who saved her life and her baby. said she was referred to Anaka Hospital after delivering an exceptionally premature, under-weight baby at 5 months. She confirms they called the ambulance at Koch Lee to Anaka, and she was transported with an accompanying nurse. After 2 months she was discharged and given tips to raise her premature son who is now a healthy growing baby.
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In Uganda, handover of a fully furnished ICT laboratory to Millennium Business School
William YEKA | 22/09/2022
Vocational education in the Albertine region has received a major boost following the handover of a fully furnished ICT laboratory to Millennium Business School today. The facility jointly established by MTN Uganda and Enabel is aimed at facilitating ICT enhanced learning. Enabel Resident Representative Tom Vanneste says that given the importance of ICT skills in today’s world of work, the laboratory will play a key role in preparing young people for employment.“ICT in education has been reduced to learning basic ICT skills, including word processing and working with spreadsheets. To bring vocational education into the 21st century, ICT will need to find its way into the workshops e.g. by utilizing car diagnostics apps for motor vehicle maintenance in the practical instruction workshops,” Vanneste says.He however reveals that many vocational training institutes lack adequate computers, trained ICT staff, and ICT content and programmes. To address the challenge, MTN Uganda provided computers and servers. It also supported the production of audio-visual learning teaching and learning content. MTN will additionally provide Millennium Business School internet for at least one year. “The internet is full of relevant online Open Educational Resources that could help to boost technical and vocational training and keep learning up to date with the latest technology,” Vanneste says. This is the second phase of the partnership between MTN and Enabel. In the initial phase, the Belgian development agency worked with the telecommunications provider to establish similar ICT laboratories at Amelo Technical Institute (Adjumani), St. Simon Peter’s Vocational Training Centre (Hoima), and St. Daniel Comboni Polytechnic (Moroto). This second phase targets another set of three institutions including Millennium Business School. Other beneficiary institutions include; Uganda Technical College Kyema and Kasese Youth Polytechnic. “MTN Uganda is intently committed to delivering the benefits of a modern connected world to everyone. We believe in creating leading digital solutions for Africa’s progress and accelerating the achievement of this vision through strategic partnerships such as the one with Enabel ” said Bryan Mbasa, the Senior Manager, MTN Foundation. Enabel through the Support to Skilling Uganda project is upgrading the institutions receiving the ICT support to Centres of Vocational Excellence through various initiatives including integration of ICT in teaching and learning, infrastructure development, private sector-led vocational training, etc.
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Uganda: 9.6 billion shillings Albertine region vocational education infrastructure commissioned
William YEKA | 22/09/2022
Government has today inaugurated new vocational education infrastructure in the Albertine region worth over 9.6 billion shillings. The facilities include; dormitories, ICT classrooms and training workshops, and garages. Others are energy-efficient kitchens and water supply systems. They have been fully equipped with all the necessary tools, equipment, and machinery. Beneficiary institutions include; Uganda Technical College - Kyema in Masindi district as well as Millennium Business School and St. Simon Peter’s Vocational Training Centre both in Hoima. Enabel Resident Representative Tom Vanneste says the initiative contributes to the transformation of the three institutions into Centres of Vocational Excellence. "The new facilities will ensure that the institutions are more conducive for learning and accessible especially for girls,” Vanneste said. The infrastructure initiative is part of the Support to Skilling Uganda (SSU) project jointly implemented by Enabel and the Ministry of Education with funding from the Kingdom of Belgium. The project provides similar infrastructure support to 4 other vocational training institutions namely; Kasese Youth Polytechnic (Kasese), St. Joseph’s Technical Institute Virika (Fort Portal), Nakapirirpiri Technical Institute (Nakapiripirit) and St. Daniel Comboni Polytechnic (Moroto). Besides infrastructure development, the SSU project built the capacity of instructors to enable them to train better. It also provided vocational education scholarships to over 12,000 youth, women and girls. Additionally, partner institutions were supported to develop and implement business plans to make self-sustaining. The Support to Skilling Uganda project aims to enhance the employability of youth through better of instruction and by making skills training more responsive to the needs of the labour market. It is implemented in Albertine/Rwenzori, Karamoja, and West Nile sub-regions.
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In Uganda, Enabel and the Education Ministry equip NTC staff and students with safety Skills
Peace NERIMA | 26/08/2022
Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) is central to the Education sector as a whole and specifically to the National Teachers Colleges (NTC), given their facilities, assets, day-to-day activities, and interactions. However, there has been a capacity gap in the colleges' human, technical and financial resources concerning safety for a while. At Enabel, creating a safe learning environment is at the heart of all our initiatives in the teacher training colleges. We do this by raising awareness among students and staff about their safety online and on-site at the colleges through various capacity-building activities.In June and July this year, we partnered with the Ministry of Education and Sports to train students and staff from the five teacher training colleges to foster a safety culture and encourage the proper use of assets in these institutions. The training focused on emergency response procedures such as fire drills, first aid administration, emergency response protocols and risk control procedures. It targeted the security teams, the Safe Learning Environment (SLE) committees for each college, student representatives and teaching and non-teaching staff. The training was conducted by the Uganda Road Accident Reduction Network Organization (URENNO), which promotes safety through training, public awareness-raising, advocacy and research. The training followed a workshop where various education stakeholders and safety experts across the country gathered to validate safety training and awareness-raising materials for the colleges early this year. At one of the sessions in NTC Kaliro, Gafabusa Josephat, the Deputy Principal highlighted the importance of practicing and applying safety precautions in the day-to-day college activities. He said, "The skills acquired in this training are critical in ensuring our safety at the college and in our respective homes. We must adopt and share them within our communities."The training presented an opportunity for staff and students to identify and map unsafe areas in the colleges, emergency evacuation and fire assembly points and recommended safety precautions. It also allowed the participants to interact with the fire and emergency rescue police officers from whom they learnt various procedures such as making 999 calls and reporting emergencies. NTC Kaliro student Nalugobe Evelyn appreciated the safety training, from which she learnt first aid administration and fire safety drills. Other students like Mwesigwa Isaiah said he learned the importance of vigilance. "This training has stressed the importance of paying attention to my surroundings. I now know that a tap or gas leakage can cause a fatal accident", he said.Since then, the training has been extended to construction workers to equip them with OHS skills while at construction sites in NTC Mubende and Kabale for the next seven months. The colleges are also currently working with URENNO to develop emergency response plans.
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VIDEO - Uganda: Supporting refugees to rebuild their lives
William YEKA | 22/08/2022
Since 2017, Enabel in Uganda has been working with the Ministry of Education and Sports to rebuild the lives of refugees and nationals through skills development and entrepreneurship training. To-date, the initiative has enabled more than 7,500 refugee and host community youth, women and girls to acquire the skills for employment and job creation.
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In Uganda, Basemera excels in hairdressing
Catherine BEKUNDA | 22/08/2022
“I can’t spend a day without a customer”, were the words Irene Basemera the proprietor of Shalom Beauty salon in Fort Portal City told Enabel at our recent visit. She revealed that she earns between Sh.10,000 to Sh.30,000 per day when it is not a busy season but this goes up to Sh.80,000 during the Christmas and Easter seasons. “I advise fellow women to acquire a skill because you cannot sleep hungry,” Basemera intimated. She completed Senior four but lacked school fees to continue her education. It was during this period that she became pregnant in her senior four vacation and had to fend for herself and her child. Basemera, who is a Sunday school pastor at New Hope Family Worship Centre says she preaches the message of skilling whenever she gets a chance both at her church and saloon. Though her dream was to be a teacher, she doesn’t regret the path she took because her saloon and church are now her education platforms. Basemera and Teddy Kabahweza underwent a 6 months’ training course in hairdressing at Yawe Foundation, an Enabel Skills Development Fund grantee during 2018. The duo received a startup kit which included a big dryer, a hand dryer and a sink key instruments to run a successful saloon business. Although they had to temporarily close their business during 2020 and 2021 when all saloons were closed as a measure to limit the spread of COVID-19, the duo has not looked back since businesses were fully opened. “From this saloon we have been able to take care of our personal welfare and pay school fees for our children,” she admits. “We have injected in more money from loans so that we can grow our business,” Basemera explains. They are both members of the Turibamu Village saving group from which they have borrowed capital up to Sh2,500,000 at a monthly interest rate of 1.5 per cent. Although they have not yet got students to train in the same trade, they pledge to ask a minimal fee since they too were helped at no cost to acquire the skills. They would require them to pay about sh.400,000 to cater for training materials such as braids and chemicals for a 6months course. They hope to have expanded their business within the next three years and started a Beauty training school as well. The 26-year-old would like to receive more training in making beads, baking cakes and cosmetology so that she has a one stop centre for her clients who include bridal entourages. Currently her salon has weaves, skin care and hair relaxing products. But to diversify their income, the duo prepares French fries (chips) and other snacks in front of their premises to serve to other customers during evening hours. Basemera and Kabahweza are part of the 3,153 youths that have been skilled in the Albertine/ Rwenzori region by Enabel, through its Support to Skilling Uganda project aimed at equipping youths with skills for economic transformation and self-reliance.
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In Uganda, Johnson Ategeka defies hard start in life to become an entrepreneur
Catherine BEKUNDA | 22/08/2022
Having lost his father in 2012 and his mother 4 years later has not deterred Johnson Ategeka from succeeding in life. He dropped out of school in primary six because he occasionally had to first take on odd jobs to get school fees and other basic needs. It was during this period that George Akora, Executive Director of Yawe Foundation picked up the two brothers (Ategeka and Francis) and took them under his care.In 2017, he enrolled them for a one-year welding course at Yawe Foundation after which they upgraded their skills at St. Joseph’s Technical Institute, an Institution supported by Enabel to become a centre of excellence in Automotive mechanics situated in Fort Portal City.“I excelled at St. Joseph’s and was retained to work there,” Ategeka reveals. From the proceeds of his work, he was able to buy 12 hens and 2 goats. “I have now been self-employed for one and half years and have been able to achieve a number of things,” a smiling Ategeka shares. He has entered into a partnership with Yawe Foundation to produce shutters for their 3-storeyed building that will house the Foundation’s skills training centre. “We cost share on electricity and other utilities and the Executive director has continuously found for me big contracts from his colleagues in town,” he explains. Ategeka has recently joined Yawe saving scheme where he has deposits of more than Sh. 100,000.“I save between Sh.10,000 and Sh.30,000 every month,” he reveals. The young entrepreneur has not borrowed from the Scheme yet but will do when he starts on his business expansion programme. Ategeka, has so far trained two youth and will train another three soon. His training in welding and metal fabrication lasts 7 months. He charges Sh.80,000 per month and Sh. 500,000 annually.“This money is to buy training materials and pay for utilities such as electricity,” he quickly adds. Future plans His plan is to save enough money to buy land and build a home for himself. “I want to grow this business and have a big display area and expand to other districts too,” the ambitious Ategeka reveals adding “I want to work hard and be able to afford the good things of life.” Ategeka plans to start a family in 4 years’ time and hopes to have expanded his business by then. The 24year old whose interest had always been welding attributes his success to discipline, quality products and timely delivery of customers’ work. His appeal “I encourage other youth to embrace skills training because one cannot sleep hungry when they are skilled,” he advises. His products range from Sh.200,000 to 300,000 for a window and doors could go for between Sh.600,000 to 800,000 while a gate costs Sh.2,500,000. His only challenge is the unstable prices of raw materials, unreliable power, and the lack of other equipment used in making heavy door frames.Ategeka is one of the 3,153 youths that have been skilled in the Albertine/ Rwenzori region by Enabel, through its Support to Skilling Uganda project aimed at equipping youths with skills for economic transformation and self-reliance.
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Uganda: Learning Music Like Never Before
Peace NERIMA | 18/07/2022
In National Teachers' College (NTC) Mubende, music lessons have been conducted in theory for many years, hindering students from experiencing and expressing themselves musically. As much as music theory plays a crucial role in one's appreciation of the architecture of Music, practicing it with instruments goes beyond learning and memorizing keys, notes, pitches and chords. Musical instruments boost students' memories and increase their cognitive skills and interest in learning. They contribute to the academic success of students and teachers and provide a fun and informative learning experience that allows students to tap into their creativity.Music Fund donates musical instruments to NTC MubendeThe music department at NTC Mubende can finally put the old way of teaching Music behind them, thanks to the Music Fund. Music Fund is a Belgian non-profit association that donates refurbished musical instruments to music schools and socio-artistic projects in conflict zones, developing countries and Europe. Through Enabel, Music Fund generously donated a consignment of 160 musical instruments to NTC Mubende early this year to improve the teaching and learning experience for students and teacher trainers in NTC Mubende’s music department. Among the musical instruments donated are 50 new ¾ nylon string guitars, 50 new flute recorders, 50 second-hand Ukuleles and 25 second-hand classical guitars.A new learning experienceKatongole Elmar, a music student at NTC Mubende, said that before receiving new musical instruments at the college, he conducted school practice by referring to a pamphlet that describes different musical instruments and their functions. He said, “During school practice, I taught students about instruments I have never seen before. I am grateful to Music Fund for its donation to our music program. We have more than enough instruments for the entire class and can practice without competing for the same instruments. Unlike our predecessors, we will leave well-equipped with musical skills”.The mode of music instruction at NTC Mubende has changed, enabling each student to touch, play, feel and listen to the instruments. With various new musical instruments, music lecturers and students can now experience and enjoy orchestral music classes, which were taught theoretically for so long. Music lecturer Bolla Nobert said, “Each student must have mastered at least one instrument by the end of this course. With the newly donated orchestral instruments, we are equipping them with various practical music skills as it should be in a music class." Enabel, through the Teacher Training Education project, aims to produce competent teachers through effective use of acquired management, pedagogical competencies, infrastructure and facilities. This donation by Music Fund will boost the music program at NTC Mubende, improve the teaching and learning experience, and enhance both students’ and lecturers’ musical skills.
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Uganda: Catherine defies odds to resume school after pregnancy
Racheal AKELLO | 13/07/2022
In early May, Kasese Youth Polytechnic (KYP) in Kasese opened its gates to first-year students who were eager and ready to pursue various technical courses. Many were vibrant and excited about what would be several years of adventure and continuous learning. However, for 18-year-old Biira Catherine, hers would be an entirely different story from the new entrants. Catherine enrolled in a National Certificate course in Building and Practice. However, before that, she got pregnant during her senior six holidays and was 7 months long when the semester started. Enrolling in a course that is perceived to be only for males was a challenge for Catherine who was also expecting anytime soon. Nonetheless, this did not deter her or muddle her confidence in pursuing a course in Building and Concrete Practice. ‘From an early age, I have always wanted to become a civil engineer and an instructor in the field of construction,’ said Catherine, as she playfully twisted the spatula she uses to make a mixture for the building blocks. On learning of Catherine’s condition, the school was hesitant to accommodate her but she insisted that she would manage and meet the expectations. Eventually, one of her instructors gave in and he even lets her use his office as a resting and breastfeeding place for both Catherine and her 2½-month-old son. According to the UNFPA 2021 factsheet on pregnancy, a total of 290,219 teenage pregnancies in Uganda were recorded from January to September 2021. This number implied that women were already mothers or pregnant by the age of 18, with studies also showing that girls drop out of school due to the stigma associated with early pregnancies. During her school days, Catherine still faces several challenges that she hopes can be addressed. ‘I hope we can have a structure set up for nursing mothers to breastfeed and for our babies to rest at whatever time they wish,’ she remarks. Despite this, Catherine is persevering and she hopes hers can be a lesson to other young mothers to pursue their dreams no matter what. ‘I encourage young girls and mothers to join skilling programs to have a future they want,’ said Catherine. Enabel, the Belgian development agency, through the Support to Skilling Project, has supported the enrolment of females in several vocational training institutes through the construction of female dormitories and state-of-the-art classrooms and workshops. From 2016 until 2020, over 1,983 females enrolled for vocational training in the 7 partner institutes supported by Enabel in the regions of Albertine-Rwenzori and Karamoja.
