(This article was first published in the New Vision on September 28, 2022)
By Patrick Okino
Lango College in Lira, formerly one of the best-performing academic institutions in the country, had only 260 students when Sammy Okino was deployed to head it in 2017.
It was common for the students to miss classes and sneak out of school.
As a result of the growing student indiscipline and the state of despair at this school, many parents had withdrawn their children from the institution.
A school, which was previously a symbol of academic excellence as it attracted learners from various parts of Uganda and beyond, including Kenya, was on the verge of collapse.
To reverse this trend, Okino reactivated the board of governors, the Parents Teachers Association and Lango College Old Students Association, in order to restore confidence in the school among parents and students.
Together with representatives from the three bodies, Okino was on several occasions hosted on local radio stations to inform parents about the efforts that were underway to reform the school and regain its glory.
“I used every opportunity including funerals and marriage ceremonies to tell people about the changes that we were spearheading at the school,” he adds.
Numbers Rising
Okino’s efforts paid off as records show that the student numbers increased to 512 in 2018, 769 in 2019, 976 in 2020 and 1,005 in 2021.
The school, which opened its doors to students in 1960, has 58 teachers.
For the first time in several years, the school’s academic performance started improving in 2019 when 14 out of 150 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) candidates passed in Division One, with the reminder getting Divisions Two and Three.
In 2020, 11 out of 92 candidates got Division One, 27 Division Two, 30 Division Three and 24 Division Four. “I promoted career guidance and counselling and strict enforcement of the school rules to restore discipline among the students,” Okino says.
He adds that he also invitedinspirational speakers and law enforcers to the school to speak to the students about the dangers associated with indiscipline.
“I encouraged students to put their views in the suggestion boxes about the school’s affairs and conducted meetings with them and continuous community sensitisation,” Okino adds.
Online Learning
Okino adds that he entered into a partnership with Edutele, an NGO, to facilitate online learning during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Under this arrangement, the NGO facilitated the teachers with learning materials and offered lessons to 550 students who had access to mobile smartphones. The teachers, he says, were facilitated with airtime and Internet data to teach the learners between September and December 2021.
In addition, the headteacher says he facilitated the distribution of the learning materials supplied by the Government and those produced by teachers to learners in the community during the lockdown.
“Some parents and students picked the learning materials from the school,” Okino says.
“The teachers produced summaries of topics for the learners. We also used the lockdown period to renovate staff houses and dormitories,” he adds.
Co-Curricular Activities
As the student numbers increased, Okino says he set his sights on co-curricular activities. He adds that he rebuilt the school’s sports facilities, including the rugby and basketball courts.
He also re-established and funded the maintenance of volleyball and soccer playgrounds. Some of these facilities are also used by the sports teams within the community.
The school, which has since resumed participation in the regional and national competitions, boasts of three basketball courts and one for rugby, four football fields and one volleyball playground.
In 2013, the school hosted the East Africa games and sports, in which various schools from several parts of Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania and Kenya participated
Vocational Education
Okino has revived the metal fabrication workshop, which he says was established at the school in 1962 to give students vocational skills.
He adds that around 100 students are now involved in metal fabrication.
“Some of the windows we have in our buildings were made by the students,” Okino says. “We also haveawoodwork workshop which will start operating as soon as we get the teachers.”
Okino says he plans to engage the Uganda Business and Technical Examination Board to examine the students engaged in vocational studies.
This, Okino thinks, will allow the students to get vocational certificates before completing O’ level.
“Students can excel in different areas. Students can get vocational studies certificates before completing O’ level and continue to pursue vocational education without going to A’ level,” he says.
Okino, who says a recent assessment by the education ministry revealed that sh6.4b is needed to reconstruct the school, is lobbying the Government to raise funds to rebuild the institution.
What Others Say
Naputal Oyuru, Board of Governors chairperson
He put up a spirited fight to rescue the school from collapse and this has paid off. Enrolment is growing. The school is making progress because of his leadership.
Felix Ogwang, the Parents Teachers Association chairperson
The school has improved tremendously with Okino at the helm. He is good at building teamwork and has continuously encouraged community members to support the school.
Patrick Olwit, Inspector of Schools
Lango College was one of the best schools in the sub-region. I am happy that the current administration is making great improvements in the school to make it shine again.
Francis Ogema, former student
We are working together with Okino to help the institution regain its past glory.
Fact File
- 1982: Sat Primary Leaving Examinationss at Okee Primary School, Otuke
- 1987: Did Uganda Certificate of Education Examinationss at Dr Obote Secondary School, Lira
- 1990: Wrote Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education exams at Dr Obote Secondary School, Lira
- 1993: Graduated with a diploma in teaching from National Teachers College, Ngetta
- 2003: Earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Makerere University
Golden Tips
- Constant interaction with students
- Use life experiences
- Build stakeholder confidence in the school
- Promote discipline
- Offer career guidance
- Support teachers
- Encourage students to aim higher
