Minister warns schools against denying pupils reading materials
L-R: Monitor Publications circulation manager Justus Katungi, Rwabigangura Primary School (Rukungiri) head teacher Ambrose Barigye and Letshego chief executive officer Geoffrey Kitakule during the handover of books to worst schools yesterday. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
Education. Ms Sezi Mbaguta notes that teachers keep textbooks in stores for fear that they will be stolen instead of encouraging pupils to read them
Kampala.
The State Minister for Public Service, Ms Sezi Mbaguta, has warned schools against keeping teaching materials in stores because it does not encourage a reading culture among pupils.
Ms Mbaguta said government’s biggest challenge is that teachers fail to give pupils textbooks keeping them in stores because they are worried they will be stolen.
As a result, the books are not easily accessed and pupils leave the primary cycle without the skills to read and count.
“Universal Primary Education is very important for us living in the most remote areas. One of the missing links is a textbook and exercise books.
I am a politician but when I am upcountry, I don’t see newspapers. These books are not for stores. Build the capacity to read. When you ask someone holding a newspaper what the headlines are, they will tell you they haven’t read it,” Ms Mbaguta said.
She made the remarks at the handover of textbooks to the worst 21 primary schools in national examinations across the country yesterday. The books, donated by Letshego, are expected to improve the grades of pupils in these schools.
Mr Geoffrey Kitakule, the Letshego chief administrative officer, said their contribution of 5,200 textbooks in English language, Social Studies and Mathematics is to see that pupils from both urban and upcountry schools access equal facilities to enable them get the required skills in the job market.
“We chose the worst schools because we think they lack the basic facilities in learning like textbooks. Our donation is to make teachers’ work much easier. We are what we are today because of education. That is why it touches our hearts that we support where we have come from in order to have a leveled ground,” Mr Kitakule said yesterday.
Monitor partners
Monitor Publications Ltd, through their #BethedifferenceCampaign, partnered with Letshego to support the latter’s cause by offering “Newspaper in Education and Excel” pull outs to the schools to help the children improve on their reading skills through accessing Daily Monitor.
Mr Justus Katungi, circulation manager, said: “This is the beginning. Moyo pupils are not as privileged as Kampala pupils. We will endeavour to support your cause with NiE for as long as we shall be running it so that the learners’ reading and numeracy skills are improved.”
Mr Bob Nelson Okullo, the head teacher of Anotocao P7 School, Oyam District blamed the institution’s poor grades on lack of teachers’ accommodation and few reading materials.
Assisted
Yenga PS
Pamodo PS
Butale PS
Nawankonge PS
Rukunyu PS
Maziba PS
Rwabigangura PS
Anatocao PS
Abongodic PS
Olinga PS
Aywee PS
Bunyoro
Kajuma PS
Kiryandongo C.O.U PS
Bugisu
Maete PS
Ayesha PS
Karamoja
Abiim PS
Kamuyon PS
Teso/sebei
Edodoi Achoa PS
Olungia PS
Rwenzori
Nyakanengo PS
Nyakacwire PS
