(This article was first published in the New Vision on September 21, 2022)
By Owen Wagabaza
In 2013, when Charles Kahigiriza assumed the role of headteacher at Ndejje Secondary School in Luwero district, revamping the institution’s infrastructure was high on his agenda.
He believed that this would help improve the learning and teaching environment.
Over the past nine years, Kahigiriza has built a multi-purpose four–level block structure which houses offices, eight classrooms, two science and computer laboratories plus sanitation facilities.
With money from fees and credit from banks, he has constructed an administration block, with offices for teachers, dormitories and staff houses. Kahigiriza has also expanded the dining hall and renovated the sick bay.
Latrines have been replaced with toilets, which has improved hygiene. The driveways and walkways have also been renovated.
These infrastructural projects, according to Kahigiriza, have attracted more students and teachers to the school.
Numbers Increase
Meanwhile, the student population has increased from 1,200 in 2013 to 2,300 while the number of teachers has grown from 80 to 115, according to school records.
Last year, 280 of the school’s 313 O’level candidates passed in division one, while 160 out of 212 A’level students attained three principal passes.
Motivation
Kahigiriza says capacity-building workshops and seminars he has prioritised, has equipped teachers with more skills.
He also introduced a reward scheme, which includes giving cash prizes and other gifts to teachers of the best-done subjects. Kahigiriza says this has motivated teachers and improved the school’s academic performance. Under the arrangement, teachers whose students get distinctions are awarded cash prizes.
Kahigiriza also introduced the ‘teacher of the year award’, where each year, a recipient of this prize enjoys a week-long all-expenses paid holiday in countries such as the UK, Israel and Turkey. To get this award, Kahigiriza, says a teacher must have demonstrated commitment to teaching, building professional and constructive relations with students, time management, participation in co-curricular activities and outstanding academic achievement.
He says 16 teachers have so far received the award.
“For any school to excel academically, the motivation of the teachers must be given priority. The teacher needs to feel that he/she is working in a friendly environment,” he adds.
Meanwhile, the school has 1,000 chickens and 36 cows. The school farm, Kahigiriza, says has been useful in the teaching of practical lessons in agriculture. The students also collect eggs and milk from the farm.
Extra Curricular Activities
Ndejje also participates in cricket, basketball, volleyball and chess competitions – which Kahigiriza attributes to the development of sports facilities at the institution.
Over the years, the school has participated in competitions at both national and regional levels. “Our students are motivated to participate in sports. We have facilities in place and trainers. There is a teacher for every sports activity we take part in,” he adds.
Keeping With The Trends
Kahigiriza says he has also facilitated teachers to use digital apps such as WhatsApp, Google Meet, Telegram and Zoom to conduct virtual lessons.
He explains the online lessons started shortly after the lockdown came into effect in 2020 until schools were reopened in January.
What They Say
Florence Bbosa, district education officer
Kahigiriza is a result-oriented headteacher. He is committed and works diligently. Ndejje has greatly benefited from his leadership skills.
Jackson Kabukaho, head of Christian Religious Education/economics
He has prioritised the well-being of teachers through the provision of allowances, accommodation facilities and rewarding hard work. I was the first to receive the ‘Teacher of the Year Award’.
David Ssennono, Resident of Ndejje
Kahigiriza has played a key role in ensuring that our children attain quality education by setting up scholarships for the best-performing students. He has also extended clean water to the residents.
Harriet Namiiro, Director of studies
The student numbers have increased but this has not compromised the academic performance of the school. The performance has improved over the years. The capacity-building workshops for teachers have been useful.
Eunice Yung, deputy headteacher
He has improved the school’s infrastructure, boosted academic performance and increased school enrollment. He has also impacted the community through interventions such as provision of clean water as well as scholarships.
Scholarships
In a bid to build relations and collaboration with the nearby schools, Ndejje offers scholarships to students who score division one at Ndejje Junior School. Many of the 52 scholarship benefi ciaries so far were sent to Ndejje Day Vocational Secondary School, which charges less than Ndejje Secondary School. The scholarship scheme, Kahigiriza says, has contributed to the improvement in performance at Ndejje Junior School.
“To ensure the programme succeeds, we support Ndejje Junior School with reams of paper so that teachers can give pupils more tests,” Kahigiriza says.
Facts About Kahigiriza
- 1978: Primary Leaving Examinations, Kitovu Primary School, Masaka
- 1983: Uganda Certificate of Education at Masaka Secondary School
- 1985: Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education at Masaka Secondary School
- 1989: Graduated with bachelor’s of science from Makerere University
- 1989: Teacher, Masaka Secondary School
- 1991: Graduated with a post-graduate diploma in education, Makerere University
- 2000: Headteacher Nakyenyi Secondary School, Lwengo
- 2004: Master of Arts in education, education administration and management, Islamic University in Uganda
- 2009: Headteacher, Kijjabwemi Secondary School, Masaka
- 2012: Graduated with a PhD in education management, Kampala International University
