By Moses Nampala
For a long time, Eria Poli, the headteacher of Budaka Family Help Project Primary School in Budaka district, would notice unusual quietness among girls during lessons.
“Performance of girls particularly in upper classes was worsening by the day,” he says.
To solve the problem, Poli constituted a team to investigate the matter and found out that the discomfort among girls was being caused by menstruation.
He says an average of 20 girls would approach the senior woman teacher for help over menstrual-related issues.
The senior woman often allowed these girls to stay home until their periods stopped.
“Each girl that was sent home missed lessons for about four days every month,” Poli says.
The investigating team recommended the adoption of a menstruation hygiene management policy and the construction of a girls’ washroom.
“Our dilemma was that government-aided primary schools countrywide hardly get funds for emergency construction needs,” Poli says.
Thus the staff, together with the school management committee, decided to mobilise parents for the cause. The parents, after a meeting, agreed that each child pays sh2,000 for the construction of the washroom.
Through this effort, the washroom was constructed and since then, performance among female learners has improved.
The Washrooms
The structure has four stances, each with a row of wooden wall hooks.
The entrance has a row of clean small jerrycans, each filled with water drawn from the school borehole.
Martha Katooko, the senior woman teacher, says the facility also has a tank and soap. The facility’s floor is always scrubbed clean using liquid soap.
Sanitary Pads
“Most parents are poor and cannot afford to buy sanitary pads for their adolescent daughters,” Katooko says.
To solve this, the senior woman teacher implored all staff members to befriend tailors in the community with the purpose of acquiring the cut-and-sew waste.
She visited each tailor and requested for cut-and-sew waste.
Today, the school has a reliable supply of cut-and-sew waste from tailors. It is this cloth waste that they use for making pads. When the cut-and-sew waste is delivered, she randomly selects a group of learners to sort the pieces and wash them. Another group of learners is chosen to iron the washed pieces of fabric and pack them neatly in a huge box that is kept by the senior woman teacher. The learners use these as sanitary ‘pads’ when in need.
Male Teachers
Samuel Woira, the deputy headteacher, says they sensitise all learners about menstrual hygiene.
“My message to the boys is on etiquette. It is punishable to heckle, ridicule or tease girls because of periods,” he says.
Ronald Malemo, a mathematics teacher, says it was agreed that changing dresses and wrappers would be made for the girls.
“A total of 25 spare dresses have since been made to that effect,” he says.
John Ndoboli, a teacher of English language, says since the facility was opened, academic performance among girls has improved.
“For instance, girls in Primary Six and Seven have beaten boys in mathematic in the two latest remedial tests,” Ndoboli says.
“Since February 1, no female learner has left the school compound because of menstruation,” Poli says.
Poli, who also doubles as the head of the mathematics department, adds: “Lately, I am getting amazed by the vibrancy of girls during mathematics lessons.”
Girls Excited
Female pupils that New Vision spoke to could not hide their delight about the innovation.
Jessica Naula, an adolescent pupil, says staying at school while in her periods is no longer stressful.
“Periods strike without warning and when they do, one is gripped by fear, resulting in loss of concentration in class,” she says.
Shira Naula’s reaction is not different from her namesake.
“Apart from the availability of washroom facilities, the senior woman teacher will readily provide clean pieces of fabric to whoever approaches her when in need,” she says
Fiona Yaya, another pupil, says the establishment of menstruation information platform has been essential in educating them on the basics of menstruation.
“My mother and sisters were tight-lipped on the subject yet I was hitting puberty. I got to learn about menstruation from our routine girls’ session with the senior woman teacher,” she says.
Florence Mirembe, the senior woman teacher, says the local community is too conservative to talk about periods. She says most girls are traumatised by their first periods.
STAKEHOLDERS’ views on the issue
Paul Higenyi, Budaka District Education Officer:
In a world of scarce resources, solutions to social challenges of communities we live in can be obtained through critical thinking as opposed to lamentations. I urge all headteachers in the district to emulate the innovation.
John Kiirya, prison warder and parent:
The headteacher of the school is a man with an enviable track record. He can make a beautiful sculpture out of what appears to be pieces of garbage.
Philice Mutonyi, parent:
The girls’ washroom facility is a big relief. In the past, my girl would miss lessons for days because of periods. The case is different today. They hardly complain about this, unless I ask them first.
School’s Background
Budaka Family Help Project Primary School is a rural government-aided education institution that was started in 1983. It was part of the Child Christian Fund Project school, but supported by the Government. In the 2020 Primary Leaving Examinations, out of 156 candidates that were registered, 10 passed in Division 1, 144 in Division 2, and only three in Division 3.
In 2019, the school had a candidate class of 146 pupils. Ten passed in Division 1, while 76 passed in Division 2 and 60 in Division 3.
