(This article was first published in the New Vision on May 4, 2022)
Jasper Twubahe is passionate about educating girls; Innocent Masanja changes lives for Nakapiripirit pupils
Every Wednesday, New Vision will be profiling some of Uganda’s teachers who are making a difference at their work stations, under the Teachers Making a Difference project. The 12 most innovative teachers will share a cash prize of sh18m and the six most outstanding will go for a week-long, all-expenses-paid study tour to Ireland, courtesy of New Vision, the Irish Embassy in Uganda and Simba Travelcare, one of Uganda’s leading tour and travel management companies. This week, we bring you Jasper Twubahe, the deputy headteacher of Seseme Girls’ Secondary School in Kisoro district and Innocent Masanja, a teacher at Namalu Mixed Primary School in Nakapiripirit district.
Boniconsilla Umuhoza is a petite soft-spoken. The Senior Four student at Seseme Girls’ Secondary School is one of the many whose future looked bleak before the intervention of Jasper Twubahe.
“When I joined Seseme in Senior One, my parents paid a small instalment of the fees and failed to raise the balance,” she says. She was rescued by Twubahe, the school’s deputy headteacher, who convinced management to give her a bursary.
Kedress Twizerimana, a Senior Five student, had also lost hope of joining high school as her widowed mother could not afford the fees. She also did not score the required grade to qualify for a scholarship.
“I got aggregate 33 in Senior Four. However, when I talked with Twubahe, she told me to focus on my studies and not worry about the fees,” she says.
These two students represent dozens that have been or are supported by Twubahe in various ways to go through school.
Caring For Needy Girls
Peace Ruzaza, Seseme Girls’ Secondary School headteacher, says Twubahe has a big heart for the girl child. She identifies needy students, some of whom she takes care of while others are supported by the school under their scholarship scheme for the disadvantaged learners.
“With the blessing of the school board, we seek sponsorships and other means of support for girls,” she says.
Ruzaza adds that Twubahe stays with a handful of underprivileged girls at her home during the holidays to “shelter them from negative forces in the villages”.
Seseme Girls’ Secondary School charges sh300,000 fees per term for students in the boarding section, but many parents cannot afford this. Therefore, 10 needy learners are on scholarship, while its partners, like Ineza Children’s Centre, sponsor over 60 others.
Twubahe supports five students. She also helps other learners in need of basic necessities, like books or sanitary pads.
She also leads an outreach through which school representatives check on parents when they are hospitalised.
“When a parent dies, we ensure that the child stays in school,” she says.
“I always spare the last few minutes of the lesson to counsel the girls, which is crucial in keeping them focused on their studies,” Twabuhe says.
She also always invites motivational speakers, including Old Girls and health workers, to speak to the students and act as role models.
Lockdown Initiatives
During the COVID-19-induced lockdown on schools, Twubahe was one of the few teachers who provided students with study materials.
“She worked with other teachers to compile notes and set revision questions, which the students would take home,” Ruzaza says, ading that Twubahe spearheaded this initiative, which “kept the students busy.”
Gerald Nkurikiyimana, the Kisoro municipality education officer, notes that the 43-year-old also used to call her students during the lockdown to ensure “they were doing fine. She would also feature on local radio stations to encourage girls and parents during this period.
When schools were reopened, she encouraged all parents to take learners back to school.”
Empowering Students
Through the Straight Talk club, which she heads, Twubahe has created a pool of entrepreneurial learners who operate different income-generating projects at school. The members grow vegetables, which they sell to the school. The money raised is used to buy scholastic materials and shoes for needy members and pocket money.
The group has recently added two new initiatives — hair cutting and shoe repair. Twubahe adds that she financed the projects with her money. This is part of the school’s life skills programme superintended by Twubahe, where students engage in activities, like baking, making table mats, baskets and learning etiquette.
Twubahe said many parents in Kisoro still favour boys over girls.
Diligent Teacher
Nkurikiyimana says Twubahe is a committed teacher who performs her duties diligently.
“Together with Ruzaza, they have turned the school’s fortunes around, improving its academics, sports and community relations,” he says.
The school has already represented the district in football at the regional level. The teacher of English language and literature has also been instrumental in creating awareness about sexual reproductive health. They are sensitised about issues, like sexually transmitted infections and teen pregnancy.
The debate club, which Twubahe heads, has also helped improve public speaking skills and self-confidence.
Golden Tips
- Read widely and be open-minded.
- Attend trainings in area of specialisation to keep up with trends.
- Love your job.
- Find new inspiration every day.
- Try out new things and approaches to avoid tendency of doing things the same way
Fact file
- Born September 15, 1979 in Nyaruhengeri village, Kisoro l1986-1992: Attended Seseme Integrated Primary School
- 1993-1998: Went to Bishop Kivengere Girls School Muyebe Kabale for O’level and A’level
- 1999-2001: Attended Kabale NTC, graduating with a second upper diploma in English
- 2002 to date: She is a teacher of English/literature Seseme Girls’ Secondary School l2003-2006: She went to Makerere University for a BA (Arts) in literature & English
- 2006-2021: Part-time teacher of English at Kisoro Vision Senior Secondary School
- 2012 to date: Deputy headteacher Seseme Girls’ Secondary School
Others Speak
Mercy Owomugisha, teacher: During the lockdown, I used to hear Twubahe on radio stations encouraging girls to stay focused.
Gloria Irakiza, S4 student: She is caring and interacts with us freely. During the lockdown, she encouraged me to read hard.
Bridgette Bananimana, S5 student: She is a mentor who has a big heart for needy girls. She got me a school bursary.
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