(This article was first published in the New Vision on September 21, 2022)
By Wilson Asiimwe
Robinah Kabayaga fell in love with the teaching profession before she started school.
Born in the 1970s, she met teachers and admired them because they dressed so smartly that they stood out in her community.
Kabayaga developed the belief that teaching is a vocation for elegant people – which was cemented in 1982 when she joined Masindi Public Primary School.
For the first time, she saw several elegantly dressed teachers in one place and the idea of her becoming a teacher started taking shape in the mind of the little Kabayaga.
“The teachers were so smart that I was inspired to pursue the teaching profession. While at school, the teachers also inspired me to become a netballer,” Kabayaga, an English and mathematics teacher at Bulindi Primary School, Hoima district, says.
Teaching has never waned since she became a teacher. That is why she carried on teaching when schools closed to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
“It was my passion for teaching and I did it without any financial facilitation,” she adds.
Kabayaga says she participated in the distribution of learning materials provided by the Government and World Vision (an international NGO) to learners. She adds that she taught over 200 pupils in groups in her community.
“They came to my home and went through the learning materials with me. I occasionally went to their homes to see how they were progressing and I urged parents to talk to their girls about the dangers of early pregnancies. These were children attending different schools,” Kabayaga, a Primary Three teacher, says.
Reducing School Dropout Rate
On account of her love for teaching and education, she says she has over the years supported the children to stay in school. Her decision to teach the children during the pandemic was partly motivated by her desire to ensure they did not drop out.
“My dream is to see all children of school-going age in school. That is why I do all I can to mobilise parents to send their children to school. I am using my position to inspire boys and girls to become teachers,” Kabayaga adds.
Owing to her devotion to the teaching profession, Kabayaga is the Uganda National Teachers Union chairperson in Hoima district. Because of her position and her efforts in mobilising communities to educate their children, she says the office of the resident district commissioner sponsors a one-hour radio programme for her to educate parents and urge them to keep children in school.
The programme runs on Spice FM in Hoima on Mondays.
“I also visit schools where I emphasise the need for creating a conducive school environment to support learning,” she adds
Protecting Children
Kabagaya, who is the head of child protection at Bulindi Primary School, sensitises stakeholders about the rights of children at home and school.
“This has encouraged many to attend school. When I joined Bulindi Primary School in 2014, there were 567 pupils. We now have 1,566,” she says.
Between 1997 and 2014 when Kabayaga was a teacher at Kakindo Primary School, which is a few kilometres from Bulindi, she says the pupil population rose from 130 to 1,430 partly due to her approach to the parents and learners.
“I talked to them about the need to keep in school. I protected the rights of children from all forms of abuse and many came to school,” she adds.
Kabayaga, who has since 2017 been the secretary of Bulindi Church of Uganda parish council, says she uses the position to educate and remind parents of the value of keeping their children in school.
“Many parents now understand the value of education because I speak about it each time I get an opportunity, even in church,” she adds.
“I strive to address academic problems with children and their parents so that parents can support the children to excel,” Kabayaga says.
The headteacher has since 2019 taught over 60 children how to weave baskets, which are sold to parents on Speech Days and other occasions.
“As a teacher, it is important to prepare learners for life after school. They need to get many skills while at school,” he states.
Kabayaga adds that she also trains girls’ netball. Bulindi Primary School recently won the football and netball competitions in Hoima and represented the district at the national level in Nebbi district
What Others Say About Kabayaga
Harriet Kihumuro, Hoima district education officer
Kabayaga is one of the most dedicated teachers in the district. She has a passion for her work and that is why teachers elected her to be their union’s chairperson. She delivers results in the shortest possible time with minimal resources. Many households in Hoima do not have access to radios, television and the internet. We are glad that Kabayaga helped children in such households to learn during the pandemic.
Joseph Musiime, resident in Kakindo
Several parents have trusted Kabayaga because of her love for the children. She knows the names of many children at school. You do not need to find her at school to know she is a good teacher who loves her job.
Jolly Kanyesige, teacher at Biiso Primary School, Buliisa
Kabayaga was a great netballer in primary school. She trains girls in netball.
Grace Kemirembe, teacher in Hoima City
Kabayaga is so devoted to teaching that she goes to libraries to research and borrow textbooks to gain new knowledge to teach better. You will find her in Hoima Public Library during her free time. She sometimes borrows from teachers textbooks, which are not available at her school. She always wants to be up to date.
Kabayaga’s Golden Tips
- Be obedient and respectful
- Embrace teamwork for success
- Love your learners
KABAYAGA’S FACTFILE
- 1989: Primary Leaving Examinations at Masindi Public Primary school
- 1993: O’Level at Bwiikya Muslim Secondary School
- 1996: Graduated as Grade III teacher from Duhaga Primary Teachers College
- 1997-2014: Teacher at Kakindo Primary School
- 2014 to date: Teacher at Bulindi Primary School
