Very insightful indeed,
I usually do not engage in very intellectual debate for fear of being exposed by those who have learned so much through the classroom. Fr. Ezama and many of my senior friends from Ombaci always quote me as one of those Njuka's whose father sent to "College" to be able to study in a good school. Anyway back to the discussion, what I believe has gone wrong is that many urban or so called have become good at coaching students to pass whereas the actual learning of subjects for the real appreciation of their nature and application has greatly deteriorated in the entire nation! For me I learned two key issues during my stay at Ombaci that one we heard to learn these subjects so that we can apply our knowledge and improve life (not just pass examinations) and two that we can learn to coexist in a world where there are so many different, animals, plants, nature, cultures, believes and traditions - more like the sciences of life and the arts of it. We should look at ways to promote conducive learning environments, increase interest in subjects of study and encourage the teachers to innovate in their ways of delivering the subjects a solution to this problem should be collective and all engaging, for me I would suggest the following solutions. 1. Academic competitions between schools of West Nile and rewards given to best students, let's say best 3 boys and best three girls, their teachers too have to be recognized. 2. Increased interschool clubs such as math club, economics club, debates, drama, sports etc 3. Strengthening of PTA's 4. Beautification of schools and recognition of most well-kept schools 5. Take our own children to those schools . Many other ways at least these are within the scope of WNF however other bigger issues like curriculum & mode of delivery of teaching may need more CDC, Ministry of Education and other stakeholders - this requires lots of lobbying but surely WNF can start . Richard From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ezama Ruffino Sent: Wednesday, March 06, 2013 7:07 AM To: A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] DR Epiphany Picho Report My dear West Nile Net members In this debate on poor performance in education in West Nile sub region I had chosen the listening mode. This is because I totally failed in making a contribution towards this problem. A member yesterday then provoked me to say something. History In 2009 the same topic attracted a lot of debate. For the new members look at the attachment [poor performance]. Seeing the passion with which many members discussed this topic we ended up having an Education Taskforce of which I was asked to be the chair. Members included: Retired ambassador Harold Acemah Mr. Mike Anewa [DFCU Bank Manager-Arua] Sr. Grace Aciro [Headmistress Ediofe Girls SS] Mr. Izio Tata [Headmaster Mvara SS] Mr. Augustine Juruga [former HM Ombaci College] Ms. Lucy Lekuru [former deputy HM Ediofe Girls SS] Ms. Selina Abi [District Councilor-Arua] Fr Philip Zema [Deputy Chair BOG-Ombaci College] Fr Alfred Asiku Tulu [then Chaplain St Charles Lwanga College-Koboko] Mr. Osborn Vuni [former District Councilor & a rep of Muslim community] Msgr Dr. Primo Asega [former Rector Pokea Seminary Fr George Ezatirale [former DEO Moyo District] Dr. epiphany picho odubuker [former Principal Lodonga Core PTC, now University Secretary-Muni Univ] And all regular contributors on the net (such as Vasco Oguzua, John Jackson Avudria, Charles male, dr Maureen ayikoru, Robert Ejiku, Willy Ngaka, Patrick Okuni, Gilbert Adibo, Caleb Alaka etc) who shared a lot with us. This group (apart from those online) voluntarily transported themselves to the meeting twice every week. We did several brainstormings. We came up with a research proposal for a survey under the topic: THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF SCHOOLS (PUPILS/STUDENTS) AT UNEB IN WESTNILE REGION AND THE FACTORS AFFECTING THEM: A HISTORICAL SURVEY FROM 1978 - 2008 Our survey would have enabled discovered the factors that made students from west Nile lead in the whole country (cf radio boys) and come to identify why we now perform poorly on a national scale. In the 1980s west nilers working in Kampala used to send their children to schools in west Nile, now people in Arua prefer schools "down country". Yumbe district (under the leadership of Mark Tivu) was the only local government that put aside money for a research into this issue. Dr Picho, with a team of other tutors at Lodonga Core PTC, undertook the research in two months and half. Our team attended their dissemination session which drew representatives from all sectors of their society. Arua District thought the preparation of the Education Ordinance would have solved this problem of poor performance. Our dream/expectation This common concern made us to think that if we succeeded in this this research we would have formed a group to do other researches in health, development etc sectors for the good of west Nile. For everybody (both within Uganda and abroad) was finally looking in the same direction. Kings would bear with me that this is the period many west nilers came on board. Our failures A) This group was not officially and legally registered. It started from the web and had no legal papers. This concern was addressed in a meeting in which Mr. Alaka was minute secretary. The Foundation got registered a year or so later. B) There was need of opening a bank account to solicit money to carry out this survey. No bank would accept us open an account since we didn't have legal papers. My foster father Mr. Joseph Etima approached SNV and they were able to open but not put the money in a private/personal account. C) We did not and still do not have a secretariat or a coordinating body. D) When I left the country in sept 2009 many attempts which took me personally to the office of the President of WNF yielded no fruits since he could not meet me due to his heavy court schedules. Amb. Acemah also tried and did not meet him. Recommendations so as not to repeat the 2009 failure 1) entrust this task to a coordinating body 2) ask each local government of the various districts to set aside money for this exercise 3) results of these researches be shared in a conference organized by west Nile Foundation 4) let the foundation choose practical and doable things or steps in finding solutions. Let's talk the talk and walk the walk proudly for the good of west Nile. Its my joy to see this task succeeds! God bless you all Fr Ruffino Ezama
_______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list [email protected] http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. _______________________________________________
