By Eumu Emmanuel.
Excitement reverberates through seven underperforming UPE schools in Oyam district following an educational exchange visit by the Foundation for Inclusive Community Help (FICH), this initiative aims to foster learning and collaboration between schools facing similar challenges.
Established in 2000 on a 10-hectare piece of land in Abalokweri village, Akokoro parish, Apac district, Abalokweri Primary School, a Catholic-founded UPE government-aided school, has demonstrated remarkable academic prowess over the past decade. Despite its rural setting, the school clinched the second position in the 2023 PLE results, with all students passing in divisions one and two, a feat mirroring the aspirations of Oyam’s struggling schools.
Victoria Harriet Anyango, the program manager of FICH overseeing education, underscores the significance of the educational visit, emphasizing the shared challenges faced by the participating schools. By leveraging Abalokweri’s success and implementing tailored interventions such as parental empowerment and foundational literacy programs, FICH aims to uplift academic performance in Oyam district.
Arazi Geoffrey, the headteacher of Abalokweri Primary School, attributes the school’s success to various practices, including the establishment of boarding facilities from Nursery to Primary Seven, fostering stakeholder engagement, implementing group work strategies, and incentivizing teachers with monetary rewards and positive reinforcement.
Francis Opeto Akaki, who served as the PTA chairperson for nine years, highlights the role of accountability in garnering support from parents and stakeholders, thereby easing the school’s operational challenges.
However, Benson Ongomo, the inspector of schools for Oyam South, identifies persistent hurdles impeding learner performance in Oyam district. These include insufficient parental support, inadequate facilities, negative attitudes towards education, poverty, domestic violence, and other socio-economic factors requiring concerted efforts to address.
Despite these challenges, the 2023 PLE results underscore the resilience of Oyam district, with 164 candidates achieving grade one, predominantly from private schools, and a dropout rate standing at 20 percent, signaling progress amidst adversity.
Through collaborative efforts and targeted interventions inspired by successful models like Abalokweri Primary School, Oyam’s underperforming UPE schools stand poised to overcome obstacles and pave the way for a brighter future for their students.