(This article was first published in the New Vision on August 17, 2022)
By Robert Adiga
When Jilda Awekonimungu, 47, the deputy headteacher at Nebbi Primary School, cultivated a portion of the school’s land allocated to her during the COVID-19 lockdown, she did not know it would become a demonstration garden for learners in the community. However, when the children learnt that she was growing vegetables on the land, they frequented her residence for English and practical agricultural lessons.
Between March and June last year, Awekonimungu says she worked with 10 children daily to grow vegetables, such as cabbages, tomatoes, green pepper and dodo in the backyard garden.
“We did the planting and weeding in the mornings and had English lessons in the afternoons. I started growing vegetables out of boredom, since the school had been closed. I also wanted to make an extra income, but it instead became a learning centre,” she says.
Awekonimungu says she taught English and skilled more than 30 children in vegetable-growing before schools reopened early this year. She adds that she used the proceeds from the sale of the vegetables to buy chalk, pens and manila papers for the school.
“Some of these children attended Nebbi Primary School, while others studied at other schools, but lived in the community where our school is located.
“This helped me keep the children, especially girls, busy during the lockdown,” she adds.
Awekonimungu, who is also a Primary Seven class teacher, says she created shifts to effectively help the children with English revision, since they belonged to different classes. Over the same period, she planted more vegetables on an acre of land in Oryang Cell Forest Ward, Tatha Division, Nebbi municipality.
Inspiring Community
Awekonimungu says growing vegetables has inspired several people in her community, including children, to venture into the same, which has not only enhanced food security, but also provided them with a source of income. She also mobilised the children to provide voluntary services, such as cleaning water sources and markets such as Nebbi Central Market, in the community.
“Whenever I see a sanitation-related challenge, I mobilise my pupils to solve it. I also do this to teach the children how to lead by example,” Awekonimungu says.
During her visits to several households over the lockdown period, Awekonimungu says she advised parents to help their children update their knowledge of various subjects, through revision.
Awekonimungu says she also reconciled three couples who nearly broke up as “the economic conditions toughened” during the lockdown.
“Some of them complained that their children were becoming indisciplined after staying at home for too long. I gave them parenting tips and hope that schools would reopen,” she adds.
Protecting Girls
Awekonimungu says she also sensitised leaders and parents at public gatherings and in church services to protect girls from engaging in sexual relations and early marriages during the lockdown.
She says she used the same platforms when schools reopened to encourage parents to send their children back to school, while encouraging them to follow the health guidelines issued by the Government to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“I encouraged two girls who had babies during the lockdown and four boys who had dropped out, to return to school and they are doing well,” Awekonimungu adds.
The deputy headteacher, who was transferred to Nebbi Primary School early this year from Nyacara Primary School, also located in Nebbi municipality, says she has restored unity among the teachers and members of the Parents Teachers Association and board of governors by improving communication.
Fighting Absenteeism
Awekonimungu, who is also in charge of discipline — a position she held at Nyacara Primary School — has promoted timekeeping and reduced cases of absenteeism among pupils at Nebbi Primary School.
“I promote discipline by sometimes giving unruly pupils leadership roles, which automatically changes them. I also counsel them and resolve disputes between teachers by talking with them individually,” she says.
Awekonimungu has been teaching for more than 20 years. She taught for seven years at Nyapea Boys Primary School and eight years at Nyacara Primary School. Awekonimungu says she has been entrusted with the responsibility of receiving development funds from parents because she is accountable and trustworthy.
In addition, as a senior woman teacher at Nyapea and Nyacara previously and now at Nebbi Primary School, Awekonimungu says she commits a substantial amount of time equipping girls with skills and knowledge to overcome “temptations” to engage in sexual relations.
She says she also encourages other female teachers to equip girls with the same skills and knowledge, which has helped keep them in school.
Co-Curricular Activities
In 2016, Awekonimungu guided Nyacara Primary School through a competition called, School Water and Sanitation, which was organised by National Water and Sewerage Corporation. The school emerged second in the competition, which required participants to come up with poems and drama skits, as well as debate and answer questions around issues on water and sanitation in schools.
As a teacher of English, Awekonimungu helped her school team compose poems and prepare for the debate, quiz and skits. The school was awarded sh3m, which was used to plant trees around the institution. She has encouraged debates in all the schools she has taught in. For instance, at Nebbi Primary School, all classes take part in debates every Friday.
Although Awekonimungu is an administrator, she says she actively takes part in organising and facilitating her school teams to participate in various sports, such as athletics and ball games. She also mobilises the pupils to embrace the training in arts and crafts at school.
Fact File
- 1989: Sat Primary Leaving Examinations at Awindiri Primary School, Arua city
- 1993: Did Uganda Certificate of Education at St Francis SS, Kampala
- 1995: Joined Paidah Primary Teachers College (Grade III, certificate)
- 1999: Started teaching career at Nyapea Boys, Zombo
- 2006: Joined Muni National Teachers College, Arua (Grade V)
- 2008: Transferred to Ediofe Boys Primary School, Arua
- 2010: Moved to Nyacara Primary School, Nebbi
- 2018: Earned a bachelor of education in Early Childhood Development, Kyambogo University
- 2020 to date: Deputy headteacher Nebbi Primary School
What Others Say
John Oryem, Headteacher Nyacara Primary School
She was outstanding as a teacher in charge of academics. She improved the academic performance of the school and promoted discipline among the pupils. She was liked by all of us and her transfer left a big vacuum. We miss her.
Alfred Onyai, Inspector Of Schools, Nebbi Municipality
She is one of the most hardworking teachers in the municipality. She is innovative and full of ideas. We learn a lot from her in the classroom and outside. She works under minimum supervision and is surely destined for bigger things.
Claudia Anirwoth, Pupil
She has taught us the value of respecting our parents, teachers, fellow pupils and members of the community.
Robert Bithum, Headteacher Of Nebbi Primary School
Her presence alone at school inspires discipline among teachers and pupils. She handles our finances and her accountability is unquestionable.
Alex Okei, Teacher
She has been motivating us since she joined the school (Nebbi Primary School). I am optimistic this will lead to an improvement in performance.
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