Keep academically engaged this holiday

The Ministry of Education and Sports in 2007 moved to ban holiday teaching in schools. And though that still stands, there is also the reality of learning loss —a situation where learners lose specific or general knowledge and skills or experience reversals in academic progress, most commonly due to extended gaps/holidays or discontinuities in a student’s education (Glossary of education reform).
As parents, how can one ensure that their child keeps getting those academic benefits during the holidays without locking horns with the ministry’s directive?
Evelyn Muhaise, a parent, shares that when her three daughters; Senior Three, Senior One and Primary Six get their holidays, she goes with them to the bookstore where each picks a book of their interest to read during the holidays.
“I have been doing this since they were in primary school to instil in them a culture of reading and love for books and I have seen results. Their writing, reading and spoken language gets better. The two in secondary offer Literature in English, so sometimes I just buy novels they will be reading in their next term. This helps them read ahead,” Muhaise says.
Encouraging children to read not only helps with their grammar and composition but also expands their vocabulary. Some reading items can be newspapers, novels, self-help books, short stories, poems and online articles, among others.

Engage in holiday work
In addition, giving your child time while doing their holiday work is what has helped Robert Mugenyi, a father.
“What I basically do during holidays is to ensure that my child has a holiday package. Even though the school does not give them the packages, I buy them myself at Nasser Road to help him keep active during the holidays. Though it is hectic, I make sure that every day, we do an exercise when I return home from work,” he says.
This helps Mugenyi know his son’s weaknesses and strengths and discuss accordingly with his teachers.
When asked whether this does not rob the child of their time to play and engage in other things during the holidays, he notes that the holiday work is only done in the evening, giving the child plenty of time to engage in other activities during the day.
Joanita Nabagereka, a senior three student at standard High school, Zana, says she will be using her holidays to learn computer skills.
“In addition to improving my grades in computer literacy as a subject at school, I believe I will be able to gain computer skills which are very important to have in the digital world today,” she says.
Holidays are also an ideal time to learn a new skill. Trying out new skills such as keeping a journal, public speaking, drawing, cooking, learning a Microsoft package, among others can help improve one’s academic potential.
Parents can also hire teachers every few days a week to have their children coached at home.
Mind games
Rachael Ddumba, a mother, says she uses holiday time to teach her children educative games.
“I am a lover of brain games and that is exactly what I do with the holidaymakers. My children and my friend’s children are usually divided into two groups that keep competing among each other every weekend —me being the judge. We compete in games such as Sudoku, crossword puzzles, jigsaws and quizzes. A group is given their task a week ahead and are supposed to work together to solve the problems,” Ddumba explains, noting that this is a fun way of learning and keeping children occupied.
In addition, one can look out for student competitions such as reading, writing, poetry, spelling competitions and enroll their children to keep them engaged as well as subscribing to public libraries some days of the week is another option.
In addition, Lillian Zziwa, a teacher at Right Care Primary School, says learners can attend educative seminars, trainings and camps. “Students are guided on issues such as positivity, entrepreneurship, career guidance, mentoring programmes among others,” she suggests.
Though it is important to keep children academically engaged during their school holidays, leisure activities should not be totally thrown out.

Community libraries you can visit (online)
• Entebbe Community Library
• Mbale Public Library
• Kibuli Library
• Mbarara Public Library
• The Center for Youth driven development initiative, Ndazabazadde village, Wakiso
• Kampala Libraary and Information Center, KCCA
• Namuwongo Community Library
• National Library of Uganda
• Uganda Community Libraries Association, Kyebando
• Lutalo Delta Community Library, Rubaga
• Kawempe Youth Center
• Kitengesa Community Library, Masaka

Books to look out for
• 48 Laws of power by Robert Greene
• Animal farm by George Orwell
• On the shortness of life by Lucius Seneca
• Song of Lawino by Okot p’ Bitek
• Kintu by Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi
• Things fall apart by Chinua Achebe