(This article was first published in the New Vision on March 30, 2022)
By Moses Bikala
Basan Muhamed Khan was transferred to Hindocha Primary School in Bugiri in 2016. The school that was founded in 1972 had only 589 pupils at the time.
He started holding regular meetings with parents to discuss how the academic performance could be improved. Parents were then urged to contribute sh15,000 towards the motivation of teachers.
Khan also noticed that pupils would leave for lunch and either did not return or came back late for the afternoon lessons. He thus introduced compulsory lunch and parents had to contribute sh25,000 for it per term.
There was also a need to solicit views from the community, so he introduced a suggestion box in 2017. Some of the suggestions included recruiting security guards for the safety of the pupils and setting up a shelter where parents would sit during visitation days, which he implemented.
Reaping From Hard Work
In 2016, his efforts started paying off after the school registered six first divisions and no failures in the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
The good academic results led to an increment in enrolment to 789 pupils in 2017. The following year, it increased to 1,233 pupils, 1,435 learners in 2019 and, now, it is at 1,554.
“Some parents who previously spoke ill of the school, changed their minds,” he said.
Khan also encouraged teachers to admit their children in the school at no cost.
“By so doing, they teach well knowing that it’s their children who will fail in case they don’t work harder,” he said.
Ahmed Mugoya, a Primary Six pupil, said Khan, popularly known as dhaadha (grandfather), encourages them to read hard.
The chairperson of the Parents-Teachers Association, Siraji Bogere, said Khan has good leadership skills that have enabled staff to work as a team. The director of studies, Rodgers Okomba, described Khan as a man who is passionate about his job.
Amina Kagoya, a parent, said Khan encourages parents to take their children to school, even those with disabilities.
To ensure children with disabilities carry on with their studies, Khan lobbied for assistance from World Vision, a non-governmental organisation, to provide wheelchairs.
Kagoya added that Khan allows parents to clear their school dues in instalments, an arrangement they find friendly.
In a bid to motivate teaching staff, Khan introduced a prize of sh20,000 for every distinction in PLE.
After realising that teachers spent huge sums of money on transport, Khan convinced parents to raise sh10m for the renovation of the staff quarters. Today, the quarters accommodate seven teachers. Staff who worked beyond normal working hours are paid sh5,000 per hour overtime.
Teachers now hold night lessons for candidate classes or those in the boarding section to improve their performance. He also started a savings co-operative that enables staff to get loans at friendly interest rates.
Co-Curricular Activities
Khan supports co-curricular activities in the school by using parents’ contributions to buy jerseys and balls for the netball and football teams. He buys for them refreshment when they are participating in competitive games. In 2017 and 2019, the football and netball teams represented the district at the national level.
Supporting The Girl Child
Many girls used to drop out of school over the lack of sanitary pads. Khan decided to use part of his salary to buy 10 boxes of sanitary pads every term that are distributed by the senior woman.
Khan also traverses the villages, especially over the weekends, scouting for girls in disadvantaged homes, offering them books, pens, uniforms and scholarships.
COVID-19 Interventions
To ensure pupils continue with their studies during the COVID-19 lockdown, Khan used his personal resources to buy 30 copies of PASS PLE in Bukedde every week that were distributed to pupils.
Teachers would drop the materials at the homes of the pupils using bicycles and the learners would send the answers using their parents’ phones.
Khan also carried out counselling sessions for learners via WhatsApp on their parents’ phones. He would also remind the pupils to adhere to the standard operating procedures, to guard against COVID-19.
He also encouraged pupils and teachers to get vaccinated to ensure schools re-open.
Improving On Security
Khan convinced parents to raise sh14.5m towards the fencing of the school. Fencing of the school compound has improved the safety of pupils.
Community
In a bid to maintain a cordial relationship with the community, Khan offered the school playgrounds to host events, like football games, weddings or any other social gatherings.
Challenges
Reluctance of some parents to clear school dues which affects the smooth running of activities. Constant power cuts also affect night lessons
Plans
- Khan intends to mobilise funds from parents to construct more staff quarters.
- He plans to lobby the district to recruit more staff.
- He also intends to register the school SACCOS with the district commercial office to enable teachers access more funding from the Government.
- Khan also intends to increase on the number of beds in the dormitories.
Who is Khan?
BORN: July 2, 1976
EDUCATION: St Kizito Primary School in Tororo, Lwakhakha SS and Tororo College in for O’level. He also studied at Nyondo Primary Teachers College in Mbale for a certificate in education and Kaliro National Teachers College for a diploma in education. He joined Busoga University for a bachelor’s degree in education and, later, a master’s in leadership skills at Busitema University.
CAREER JOURNEY: Served as an examiner for science with Uganda National Examinations Board and chief facilitator for early grade reading with World Vision. He was also a teacher at Hindocha Primary School before being transferred to Butumba Muslim Primary School as a deputy headteacher and later appointed headteacher of Hindocha.
Others Speak
Jane Auma, a parent: Khan is always ready to receive advice given to him by anyone, regardless of one’s social or economic status.
Agnes Nantolo, the chairperson finance, PTA: Khan has always accounted for funds effectively, leaving all members satisfied.
Suzan Shida, a teacher: Khan has always ensured prompt payment of salaries, which has boosted the morale of the staff.
