(This article was first published in the New Vision on May 25, 2022)
By Moses Bikala
Sarah Kitsale Okumu was transferred to Bukedi College Kachonga when it was on the verge of collapse. The school that used to be an academic giant between the 1970s and 1990s, with a capacity of over 3,000, had only 35 students.
In 2016, she set up a 10-person committee comprising teachers and members of the school management committee to establish why learners were few. The committee traversed Butaleja district consulting parents, and some of the issues they raised included violent strikes, poor academic performance and absenteeism of teachers.
Tackling The Problem
Okumu launched operation: “Revive the Glory of BCK Now”.
“I assured parents there would be no more strikes and that there would be an improvement in the academics,“ she said.
Okumu also requested free airtime on village megaphones that serve as radios to rally communities to bring their children to the school. As a born-again Christian, Okumu also lobbied churches to offer time during Sunday service to speak to the congregation.
Her efforts started bearing fruit by the end of 2016, the student population rose to 243, 322 in 2017, 345 in 2018 and to 432 currently.
Okumu says the enrolment would be higher had it not been for the two-year lockdown imposed on schools to manage the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Improving Academic Performance
Okumu instituted regular parent meetings where she explained the need to support their children by clearing school dues on time and providing all the necessities to ensure efficient progress of school activities.
“There was no way the school could develop without involving parents,” she said.
The school had not had a student in the first division for over 10 years. Okumu, assisted by school prefects, in 2016, introduced compulsory preps and remedial classes on weekends and public holidays. She also set up a disciplinary committee that would punish any student found skipping preps.
Consequently, the school registered three first divisions in the Uganda Certificate of Education exam and 23 students obtained three principal passes at the final A’level exams.
Beating Stereotypes
Before Okumu became the headteacher, according to the LC1 chairperson of Kachonga, Joseph Mudhanga, students used to roam the village hurling insults at residents and uprooting their crops. He adds that this is no longer the case.
The chairperson of the Parents’ Teachers Association, James Habi, says Okumu is hardworking with a passion for her job. He adds that she has a good working relationship with her parents.
The former Member of Parliament of Butaleja East and National Resistance Movement party spokesperson, Emmanuel Dombo, says critics thought Okumu would fail to perform being the first female headteacher in the school, but she has proved them wrong.
“Many male headteachers have previously served in the same position, but their performance was not as stellar as Okumu’s,” he says.
The Woman Member of Parliament of Butaleja, Florence Andiru, says Okumu has proved that women can also make good leaders.
John Hirya, a Senior Three student, says Okumu helps pay tuition fees for some needy students. She is currently paying school fees for 10 students.
Motivating Staff
In a bid to motivate staff, Okumu introduced allowances for teachers who conduct lessons beyond the normal working hours or over weekends.
Teachers are paid sh5,000 for every extra hour. Teachers were also offered over 50 acres of the school’s land to cultivate crops to feed their families.
She also ensured teachers have accommodation at school to enable them to monitor night preps.
Co-Curricular Activities
Okumu has always used the meagre resources to purchase sports jerseys for the school football and volleyball teams.
To boost the players’ morale, Okumu also caters for refreshments during any competitive games.
The school football team has since 2018 been representing the district at the national competitions after emerging champions.
Renovating Two Dormitories
Two dormitories that were constructed in 1958 had leaking roofs and a damaged floor that put the learners’ health at risk. This prompted Okumu to lobby support from the school’s Old Boys in 2018 and they raised sh50m that was used to renovate the dormitories.
Clearing School Debt
Okumu managed to clear a debt that amounted to sh67m, that she inherited. She cleared the debt within five months. Instead of buying some food, students were mobilised to cultivate part of the over 50 acres of school land where they grew maize and beans for meals. Okumu also suspended expenses on weekly special meals that comprised of meat and rice until the debt was cleared.
Ending Strikes
To avoid a repeat of the violent strikes that had rocked the school, Okumu ensured the learners get meals on time and teachers were always present.
During her free time, she would encourage the students to repent of their sins and be patriotic.
Okumu also recruited three security guards who ensure safety.
Relationship With The Community
To maintain good relations with the community, Okumu invites residents to attend functions at the school.
She also allows them to use the school playground for social events on weekends or public holidays.
Covid-19 Interventions
To ensure continuity of studies during the two-year-lockdown on schools, Okumu bought copies of the New Vision that were distributed to learners by a volunteer teacher, James Kuloba. She says Kuloba would ride a bicycle from village to village distributing the copies weekly.
She bought the 10 copies of the newspaper using her money.
Okumu would receive feedback after three days when Kuloba would ride back to the different villages to review the student’s work.
Challenges/Plans
Okumu is faced with challenges of delay by parents to clear school dues and a poor road network that makes it hard for people to access the school premises.
Okumu intends to lobby for funds to fence the 150-acre school land to protect it from encroachers and renovate the remaining dormitories.
Who is Okumu?
Okumu was born on January 28, 1969. She attended Kitale Primary School in Kenya and Tororo Girls School for secondary education. She proceeded to Nkozi National Teachers College for a diploma and later a bachelor’s degree in education from the Islamic University In Uganda. She then pursued a master’s in education management and planning from the Uganda Christian University, Mukono.
She served as a tutor at Kamuli Primary Teachers College, a teacher at Mbale High School and deputy headteacher at Bugokho Secondary School, before being brought back to Mbale High School as a deputy headteacher. In 2016, she was appointed headteacher of Bukedi College Kachonga.
She is married to Pastor Wilberforce Okumu of Pearl Heaven Ministries in Mbale and they are blessed with three children,
Others Speak
Christine Akol, Butaleja district education officer
Okumu has revived the school’s lost glory, reinstating it as an academic giant. I urge other headteachers to be devoted to their work to have a successful career.
Michael Higenyi, Butaleja LC5 chairperson
The district was ready to offer support whenever necessary to Okumu to enable her execute her mission of reviving the lost glory of the school.
Apollo Webale, the Resident District Commissioner
Okumu has effectively solved the problem of violent strikes that used to rock the schools. For the first time in history, the school has peacefully closed one year after another without hearing about a strike.
Golden Tips
Involve all stakeholders in the management of school activities
Always put God first while executing duties
Listen to counsel offered by subordinates
Leave feedback about this