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At Kokuwam Community School in Kacheri Town Council, Kotido district, the headteacher, Simon Ojok, proudly displays the 2024 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) results of both his learners and those of pupils from the government primary school where his candidates sit examinations.
The names of the children from Kokuwam are highlighted in bright green. The results show that the community school got better grades than its primary school counterpart. Three out of the seven candidates got second grade. Teacher Ojok delightedly states that one of the three is being sponsored by Straight Talk for her secondary education.
The head teacher’s face brightens as he says Kokuwam Community School is the preferred school in the village. The growth in enrolment from 551 in 2021 to the current 879 is testament to this.
“We have only one advantage over the government school – newspapers. We utilise the lessons and sample tests in the Pass PLE pullout in Weekend Vision. The learners do the tests and the teachers help them to make corrections. This practice has given us a big edge,” Ojok says.
Kokuwam Community School is one of the 92 schools that receives 25 copies of Weekend Vision and Toto magazine weekly, sponsored by Save the Children in partnership with Vision Group.
Dan Silver Basaijja, the Save the Children regional manager for Northern and West Nile regions, says they introduced Newspapers in Education (NiE) over 10 years ago to create a safe and quality learning environment, promote participation of all children including those with disabilities and improve literacy in rural schools in Karamoja and Acholi subregions.
“We are partnering with New Vision to train teachers to use newspapers to deliver vibrant and effective lessons,’’ Basaijja said.
NiE is inspiring“Integrating newspapers in classroom teaching exposes learners to a world beyond their community and inspires them to create new ideas,” says Patrick Rubangakene, a Primary Three class teacher at Wilul Primary School in Lacid village, Pukony sub-county in Gulu district.
In addition, Rubangakene says, reading newspapers stirs up children to desire diverse careers, which is vital for their education journey.
He says NiE is attracting parents to the school and thereby giving teachers the opportunity to involve them in school activities as well as in monitoring their children’s progress.
For his part, Joseph Raymond Okumu, the headteacher, says NiE has improved his school’s enrolment from 200 before the COVID-19 pandemic to 395 pupils and attendance.
“The prizes that New Vision and Save the Children are giving to children who participate in the climate change competition are also motivating children to learn about the need to conserve the environment,” Okumu added.
“Bring back regional newspapers”Okumu called upon New Vision to reintroduce newspapers written in local languages to enable the pupils in lower classes that are taught in the thematic curriculum and parents to read. He says newspapers such as Rupiny were relatable because they carried regional news that represented local communities that the people could identify.
He also urged development partners that are keen on education to facilitate exchange visits for learners and teachers and to provide scholastic materials such as mathematical sets for candidates as they prepare to sit PLE.
NiE and reading cultureJoyce Okee Otim, the headteacher of Awach P7 School in Awach Town Council, Gulu district, lauded Save the Children and New Vision for initiating the NiE programme, saying it has boosted the reading culture and performance of her school. She says that although the enrolment is high at 1300 learners, the school devises means of fully utilising the 25 copies of newspapers that they receive weekly.
‘’This programme is creating awareness on climate change, helping pupils and teachers in revising using the Pass PLE questions and answers, making learning fun for younger pupils with Toto’s magazine children’s activities and entertaining teachers and parents with the puzzles,’’ Okee added.
Don’t make children miss school to till the landJackline Akello Ocowun, the acting Gulu District Education Officer, commended Save the Children and New Vision for initiating the Newspapers in Education programme that is registering what she called a tremendous positive impact in boosting pupils’ enrolment, attendance, retention and completion of primary education cycle.
Akello urged more development partners to support the education department and schools to better the learning environment and academic performance. She implored parents to send all children to school and not keep them home to till the land and do domestic chores.
What children sayJames Rubangakene, 17, P7, Wilul Primary School: I love reading. Every Wednesday and Friday, we read newspapers and discuss the questions in the Weekend Vision Pass PLE pullout with the guidance of our teachers. I am now more confident when I speak and write English.
Stephen Ogenrwot, 17, P7, Wilul Primary School: I started reading newspapers and Toto magazine in 2023. I am more informed about current affairs. I don’t fear PLE since we have been revising using Pass PLE questions in Weekend Vision.
Dorcus Adokorach, 15, P7, Wilul Primary School: I have been reading newspapers since I was in Primary Five. It has helped me to learn new words and become a better speaker.
Lillian Apwoyorwot, 9, Wilul Primary School: I read Toto magazine. It is interesting. It has short stories accompanied with big pictures.
Alex Okello, 14, P7, Awach P7 School: Revising using questions in Pass PLE has helped me to gain confidence to participate in group discussions. Newspapers are entertaining.
Prisca Lamunu, 9, P3, Awach P7 School: I started reading Toto in P1. Toto magazine helps me to improve my reading skill and learn new things.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
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