Basic Education and Literacy

 
The Rotary Club of Kampala Central sought to conduct a needs assessment in 15 schools in Lukwanga Parish, Wakiso District and the following was established;
  • Every three (3) students in Lukwanga Parish shared one desk.
  • 95% of the students did not have text books and scholastic materials.
  • Education for the girls was uncertain with early pregnancies and missing out of school during their menstrual periods.
  • There was lack of any form of recreational activities in Lukwanga schools.
  • These poor communities are not privileged to source and afford qualified teachers.
  • In comparison with other schools in Kampala District with improved quality with over (70%) passes, on average only 6% of students would pass with a first grade in the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
  • High level of school dropouts: 7 out of 10 students did not proceed to secondary school or do not complete secondary school.
  • Children who could continue to secondary education had to walk 8km or more making 16 km per day.
  • Girls children walking long distances for education risked rape and abduction among others.
  • Commitment to education was lacking. Of the 1,303 children below 18 years of age in four villages, 25% did not attend school. However, the most affected was Luggi village where 65% of the children do not attend school, Luggi community had the lowest average monthly income estimated at Ug shs 10,000.
  • Some did not attend school due to the parent’s attitude towards education and the orphans living with the elderly were most affected.
  • The aggravated effect rendered over 70% of the youth redundant with limited skills to advance their careers.
  • Lack of access to computers at schools or in their households.
In 2013 the Club refurbished a classroom block at Good Hope Primary School, Lukwanga with two classrooms and now currently housing a nursery section of the school as an annex. This was done with funding from donations made by the Club partners from the Rotary Club of Norresbury, Denmark.
 
Lukwanga community – Basic Education & Literacy - GG# 1636456
In 2016, the Rotary Club of Kampala Central in partnership Greater Huntsville (USA) started implementation GG# 1636456 – Lukwanga community – Basic Education & Literacy in the following six (6) schools.
Azhar Islamic Primary School, Lukwanga Good Hope Primary School, Kamya Memorial Pre and Primary School, St. Ludigo Ggimbo Primary School, Nabukalu C/U Primary School and Lubiri High School Buloba Campus
 
Aims
  1. Support programs that strengthen the capacity of communities to provide basic education and literacy.
  2. Provide school equipment and the children with scholastic materials
  3. Reduce gender disparity in education
  4. Provide training in teaching literacy by conducting professional development for the teachers
Achievements
  1. Provided support in various areas namely:  Repaired and painted classrooms, provided 280 desks and chairs, 10 first Aid Boxes, 100 footballs,100 netballs, 100 volleyballs, scholastic material, 500 sanitary pads, classroom book cases and furniture (still in shipment)
  2. Supported the top 10 ‘Academic Girl Student Exchange’
  3. Conducted girl child counseling
Education Scholarship: In 2014/15, the Club started an education scholarship where it sponsors eight students from Lukwanga Parish for secondary education at Lubiri High School – Buloba Campus. These students were taken on from Senior (S1) one and the scholarship covers up to Senior four (S4). Despite the closure of the project, this initiative will continue.
 
The project was officially closed on Friday 20th April 2018 at Lukwanga Good Hope Primary School. The Ministry of Education and Sports along with the individual schools will continue to ensure long-term success of this project. The project is to train and empower the teachers and girl students and thus will help them learn and continue to improve their learning and life skills.
 
Sponsors