(This article was first published in the New Vision on October 12, 2022)
By Moses Bikala
There were only 145 pupils at Dube Rock Primary School in Butaleja district when Michael Okurut was deployed to run it in 2009.
Many parents had withdrawn their children from the school located in Kachonga sub-county due to poor academic performance and non-participation in co-curricular activities for many years.
None of the Primary Leaving Examinations candidates of the school, which was established in 1978, had ever passed in division one.
In order to restore the parents’ confidence in the school, Okurut says he held regular meetings with them, assuring them of his ability to turn around the school by improving the learning and teaching conditions for the pupils and teachers.
“Some of them (parents) thought I was just excited at being elevated to the position of headteacher. They laughed at me in meetings,” Okurut says. “My meetings were aimed at getting the parents’ views on how to improve the school’s performance.”
Although the parents who were still sending their children to the school did not show much hope in the institution, Okurut says he got them to agree to contribute sh10,000 per term for each pupil so he could provide lunch for them.
Rewarding Pupils
In order to encourage the pupils to arrive early for class, Okurut gave a boiled egg to each of the 60 pupils who arrived at school before 7:00am in 2012.
“Almost all pupils started arriving at school before 7:00am within three months of the first term and I stopped giving them eggs,” he adds.
Between 2014 and 2017, Okurut partnered with a non-governmental organisation to provide sanitary towels to girls after realising that the poor management of menstrual cycles led some female pupils to drop out of school. He says over 450 girls benefited from this intervention.
Favour Hasahya, the school’s headgirl, says the sanitary towels encouraged the girls to stay in school.
She adds that Okurut raised funds from parents and built a dormitory for the girls, which has allowed female pupils to remain in school. Earlier, the parents would rent private accommodation for their children outside the school.
“Most of the girls would get influenced by bad peer groups to engage in early sex, which resulted in unwanted pregnancies,” Hasahya says. Okurut says the parents contributed sh35,000 over a couple of school terms to finance the construction of the girls’ dormitory, which was commissioned in 2015.
“The girls can now concentrate on their studies, which has prevented them from dropping out of school,” Okurut, who also offers bursaries to bright pupils, says.
Pupil Numbers Increase
The school’s headboy, Amor Okello, says Okurut has boosted professionalism among the teachers and encouraged them to be friendly to learners, which is partly why the school has now attracted pupils from Mbale and Tororo districts.
In 2009, nine of the school’s candidates passed in division one, prompting parents to throw a party to celebrate the victory. This encouraged more parents who had withdrawn their children from the school to send them back. By the end of 2010, the school’s enrolment had jumped to 1,227 pupils.
A total of 22 candidates passed in division one in 2010, 38 in 2011, 44 in 2012, 47 in 2013, 34 in 2014 and 39 in 2015. According to the 2020 Primary Leaving Examination results, 39 candidates passed in division one.
Currently, the school’s enrolment is 1,767. Of these, 1,045 are girls, according to the school’s records. Meanwhile, 345 of the school’s 588 in the boarding section are girls.
Motivating Teachers
In an effort to keep the teachers motivated, Okurut has since 2014 been rewarding them with prizes, such as blankets, plates and cups, as well as end-of-year parties to celebrate the school’s yearly milestones.
He says he uses earnings from the teachers’ savings and credit co-operative organisation to finance the awards scheme.
Okurut says he also motivates teachers with stipends for remedial lessons. He adds that he encourages parents to attend end-of-year parties, which has allowed him to establish good relations between the school and the community.
Okurut also paid off the sh39m the school owed suppliers for items which were procured before he took over the school’s leadership.
He encourages and rewards participation in co-curricular activities by exempting students who take part in various sports, such as athletics, from contributing some scholastic materials like reams of paper and lunch fees.
“I ensure our football and netball teams have uniforms and balls and are properly looked after during competitions,” Okurut adds.
The school’s football team won the Bukedi regional competitions in 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Okurut says he kept in contact with of the learners during the COVID-19 pandemic, encouraging them to revise their notes while assuring them that the schools would reopen.
He adds that he also photocopied the learning materials in Bukedde newspaper and facilitated the school’s messenger to distribute them to some learners in the community.
“I also encouraged the learners to listen to the radios which hosted teachers,” Okurut says. When the schools reopened, he says he asked the LC1 officials to use their leadership structures to inform the parents and children of the school’s reopening date and mobilise learners to return to school.
Okurut adds that he also mobilised learners at social events, such as weddings and funerals, to return to school. He explains that he shares with learners money-making ideas, such as making soap and engaging in agriculture over the holidays.
What Others Say
Michael Higenyi, Butaleja District Chairperson
Other headteachers need to emulate Okurut. He is hardworking, focused and passionate about results. He has nurtured and supported many young boys and girls to excel.
Christine Akol, Butaleja District Education Officer
He has always given us timely accountability reports on how Universal Primary Education is performing and how funds are being utilised. The school has consistently performed well, which has encouraged parents to send more children to it.
Moses Kasakya, Lc3 Chairperson Kachonga Sub-County
I boast before people each time the PLE results get released because the school performs well. I have previously resisted attempts to transfer Okurut from the school out of fear that the school’s performance will deteriorate.
Hajira Namagogwe, Resident District Commissioner
Okurut has proved to Ugandans that a child in a Universal Primary Education school can excel.
Peter Were, Lc1 Kachonga Village
Okurut encourages parents to save money to support the education of their children. He offers saving tips to parents who approach him with financial challenges.
Agnes Wejuli, Vice-Chairperson School Management Committee
He accounts for all the funds of the school in meetings. He leaves everyone satisfied.
Golden Tips
- Delegate responsibilities
- Promote transparency
- Establish clear communication lines
- Support your teachers to grow
- Be a good listener
- Respect your teachers and parents
Fact File
- 1984: Wrote Primary Leaving Exams at Ajeluk Primary School, Ngora
- 1985-1989: Ngora High School for O’level
- 1990-1992: St. Aloysius Core Primary Teachers College in Ngora for a certificate in education
- 1994-1999: Teacher at Namakwekwe Primary School, Mbale
- 1998: Joined Nkozi National Teachers College for a diploma in education
- 1999-2009: Teacher at North Road Primary School, Mbale
- 2008: Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from Uganda Christian University, Mukono
- 2009 to date: Headteacher at Dube Rock Primary School
- 2018: Earned a master’s degree in education policy and management from Makerere University.
