Skilling lessons impact students’ lives

With the ever changing times, it is becoming increasingly difficult for one to survive on only theoretical knowledge.
For this reason, schools now run different projects to ensure their students get armed with skills beyond the classroom.
At Buddo Secondary School in Wakiso District, for instance students engage in Music, dance and drama and are taught aspects such as song writing, singing as well as recording music. In addition, they engage in projects such as agriculture, arts and crafts, among others.
“Without a doubt, the world has changed. You cannot survive on concepts alone. I usually tell my students that if they maximise the opportunity at school and equip themselves with any of the skills available, they will be much better than those who only focus on passing academic work,” Lawrence Muwonge, the headteacher of Buddo Senior Secondary School, says.

Helping schools save
These ventures have not only been beneficial to students but the school as well.
“We have about 60 cows and 32 pigs in the school right now. Our students consume some of the products including the milk and meat we get from the animals. Sometimes, we sell the products off to supplement on the school’s income,” he says.
Although some of the students have a negative perception towards the projects, Muwonge says many of them appreciate after leaving school.

There were students in the past who thought we were making them suffer by imposing these practical lessons on them, not knowing that we were only preparing them to face the reality on the ground that not everyone will get a white collar job,” he says, adding,
“It is interesting how many of them have come back to the school thanking us for these skilling initiatives. Some of them have gone ahead to open up their own businesses and are making huge profits.”

Nurturing talent
Meanwhile, Victoria Kisarale Serunkuuma, the head teacher of Gayaza High School, shares her insight on how different projects are impacting the lives of students at the school.
“The advantage with these ventures is that they trigger ideas in the minds of our girls to scale to greater heights. These projects open up doors and possibilities for them. For instance, a girl may discover a hidden talent in music by playing the piano,” she says.
Some of the schemes at Gayaza High School include a school farm, homeconomics which involves practical sessions such as baking, sports, music, dance and drama, among others. Serunkuuma adds that the teachers at the school are often advised to cut down on assigning students theoretical homework to do during school breaks and instead focus more on giving practicals.
“I want my girls to put their skills into use during the holidays. For example, if a girl is doing art at school, she can make a success card while at home or if she is studying home economics, she can be tasked to bake a cake.”

Parent’s support
At Hawa Secondary School in Wakiso District, students plant different foodstuffs in the school farm and later harvest them for consumption.
“Recently, the students had fresh maize and cassava from the garden for their meals,” Mariam Nankya Kimbugwe, the school’s head teacher, says.
Kimbugwe adds that some of the students have maximised the skills attained from working at the school farm by starting up their own plantations at home. “One of students is cultivating food for her family and selling off the surplus for money,” she says. She advises parents to support children who express interest in running their own projects while at home. Equipping learners with skills will enable them open more doors in employment.