(This article was first published on January 20, 2023)
By Umar Nsubuga
A charitable organization, Humans Care Foundation, has donated computers worth Sh35 million to Queen of Peace secondary school in Nabyewanga, Mpigi district.
The school is soon to be turned into a center for computer studies for all secondary students.
Martin Mpanga, the executive director of Children’s Sure House and founder of the school, said, providing ICT units to students will positively impact not only the students but also the entire community.
Mpanga stated that computer literacy and e-learning are intended to close learning gaps in this under-resourced rural school.
“The gaps limit the exposure learners should enjoy as new trends in global education emphasize e-learning is the right way to go,” he said.
He also stated that this is the only secondary school in the area and that it faces many challenges, one of which is a lack of electricity; however, we have plans for residents who live nearby to use the computers during evening hours and on holidays when the students are not using them.
According to Children’s Sure House, Mpanga, it is positioning itself to be a model for providing quality education to disadvantaged children in rural Uganda.
“We are focusing on rethinking the education on offer, with an emphasis on teaching and training that empowers and prepares learners to be skilled problem solvers and productive members of society.” “Computer literacy and e-learning are critical components of the future Sure House strategy for children,” Mpanga explained.
During the launch of the e-learning ceremony held last week at the school, the guest of honor, Lt. Patrick Kasumba, and a Member of Parliament said the government wants to recognize and thank Embrace Relief for making the program possible. We are well aware of the importance of providing Uganda’s students with the tools they need to succeed, and this program is very valuable in making the ministry of education structures, possible.
He also stated that the collaboration between the Humans Care Foundation and Children’s Sure House will benefit national development and that the program will be expanded in the future.
Under children’s Sure House, the school’s founding organization, Queen of Peace, is partnering with Ultimate Media Consult to upgrade teaching techniques in computer literacy and e-learning.
Phulomena Namirembe the director of the school said the partnership is also intended to support learners to be more creative, practical, and productive at school and in the community.
She said that this new approach is considered by the school vital in connecting the school to the community and for the learners to get involved in activities at the community level and relevant to their learning and livelihoods, that’s why we have started to work with Makerere University on the environmental basics.
According to the project coordinator Humans Care Foundation, Yonnah Mondo providing ICT units to students will positively impact not only the students but also the entire communities.
“Improving educational outcomes will lead to the expansion of economic opportunities and reduced levels of poverty.
“This is not the end, we shall be bringing in more computers so I urge you, head teachers, to take responsibility to find provisional ways to make sure that these computers are protected and used properly,” he said.
Mary Sibulidwa the head teacher said they have been having computer challenges, but after acquiring these computers, she hopes the problem will be solved.
“The school has more than 400 students, but we had no computers and electricity yet it’s the only secondary in the area. Students have been attending computer lessons but theory lessons only without practical lessons. Now that we have acquired our computers, we are happy because we shall conduct computer lessons”.
“We are proud of this project, although we still lack electricity in the area. We have computer labs, starting this year, computer studies will be compulsory and practical lessons a must for every student, Sibulidwa said.
She also said that the idea behind this project is that, ICT should become an integral part of the lives of our students.
The initiative to support this school is mainly to support computer literacy and e-learning and is part of the Humans Care Foundation’s Childhood project.
