A visit to our Literacy Project

The UK Administrator, Sue Craig, visited Kamuli at the end of March and had the opportunity of visiting two schools that are involved in our Literacy Project. 

The first school, Kasambira, is a small rural school about 5 km outside of Kamuli.  A huge welcome was given to the visitors - Sue, Programme Manager Andrew Yiga, and Project Officers David Suuna and Doris Nabugasha.   After the children sang their welcome, the teachers thanked UDS for the difference that the books and training from UDS have made. Several children then read out loud from the books that they had chosen.

Children at Kasambira school

 

At Bezallel, the visitors heard a P4 class read out in class – some in groups and some as individuals.  An audio excerpt from this class can be heard here.  The teacher, Rose Muzira, who has overall responsibility for literacy at the school said that her P4 class, who had received the input from UDS when they were in P3, were better readers than her P5 class.   

Reading in class at Bezallel

Learning to read is such an important stage in a child’s life.  In Uganda the local language is used for the first couple of years, but when they reach P3 – our equivalent of Year 3 at Primary school – they have to read and write in English, as all the national curriculum is carried out in English.  Being confident readers not only helps them speak English, but also helps with their studies.  Both schools said how their overall academic performance has improved since UDS have been intervening with the literacy element of their learning. 

Reading out loud in Kasambira school

Both of these are poor rural schools with very limited resources.  They are “private” schools charging approximately £15 per term per student.  This gives the parents a better level of teaching than in the government schools, but there are still not enough teaching materials to go around the classes. 

The schools are using the Ladybird reading scheme and each books costs around £2.50. A donation of £5 per month could buy enough books for a class over the course of the year, or a simple text donation of £5 could buy two books.   

Please help – these children really need your support. To donate, please text UDSL13 £5 or more to 77070.