He gives his learners upbeat attitude
Andrew Bosco Otim says those who would like to join teaching to get money should not because they will have forgotten the sole importance of their service. Photo by Michael Kakumirizi
What you need to know:
- Asked many years ago, Andrew Bosco Otim would say he is going to become a banker. But that is in the past now after he enrolled for a teacher training course in 2011 that was to change his life forever.
In Andrew Bosco Otim’s life, a few moments go to waste. Otim, a teacher at New Horizon Primary School in Mukono is always in motion. His pupils, who prefer calling him Bosco, owing to the popularity of a recent telecommunications advert, fill most of their time with assignments, from the time they arrive in the morning to their dismissal at the end of the school day.
“We are not like any other school. Our focus is not only on getting good grades in class but a holistic approach that builds our children,” Otim says.
All rounder
When he is not in class teaching Social Studies and Religious Education, he is either helping in the vocational department with bicycle repairs or completing painting jobs. He is also the secretary of the church board as well as the treasurer of the Noah’s Ark Family Church and a qualified grassroots football coach, who heads the sports department and physical education. In holidays, he puts on another hat as a social worker.
He is obviously one of the most famous teachers at the school compound and he credits this to the opportunity he takes to strengthen his relationship with the learners.
“If you walk in the community and no one recognises you, then you do not deserve to handle anyone’s child,” he says.
Strange beginnings
Otim is energised and efficient, yet he never wanted to be a teacher. He is now in his sixth year of teaching at New Horizon, a school that started as a Children’s Home in 2006. “I wanted a degree in Business Administration.” “I had no inspiring teachers to look to. I hated teaching because we used to be beaten especially for mental work. It was scary to be a teacher myself. But one friend, Emmanuel Olupot, kept telling me about education. I now connect the dots because I could teach bricks as a child, yet I was trying to be something else,” he recalls.
When he completed A-Level in 2008 from Alliance High School in Soroti, Child Fund International took him on as a field officer coordinating their sponsorship programmes. It was during this time that Otim developed contact with Peter Buitendijk of New Horizon.
When he called in for a job in 2011, he dreamed of following in the footsteps of his uncle who was a banker. He wanted an office job yet when he was walked around the school, his first posting was in the metalwork class where he also helped children with repairing bicycles. He was later taken to carpentry and painting.
“It was during this time that they saw qualities of a teacher in me. I had requested Buitendijk to take me to university and he had objected. He instead enrolled me at Nakaseke Teacher Training College where I spent two years and came out with a Grade III certificate. But even then, I had negative attitude until I got so impressed by one of the tutors, Patrick Mukama. He was so passionate and the way he delivered his knowledge was admirable,” he recalls.
Otim faces challenges similar to those most teachers experience, though one of his significant struggles is balancing his work with his personal life.
“As teachers, we are like a white cloth. Any dirt is seen. I may have personal feelings and habits but I have to control them. It is a struggle because children imitate us. I keep checking myself to remain a role model. Even when you are stressed, the children must not know,” he says.
The future
From the moment he arrives to school, he is moving. He is organising the classroom, reading over the day’s lessons and then helping students in small groups. He strives to have a relationship with each student and is continuously challenging students to perform at their optimum best.
The third born of 11 children, who include a set of triplets, life was not easy after he lost his mother 16 years ago.
Pingire-Agulei in Serere was not the best place to excel academically. “We must let children know early that life is a struggle and they should also live impactful lives.” He has not given up on his dream of becoming a manager.
“I now plan to study educational planning and management because I see myself in leadership positions. I must study to learn to handle human resource. I also look forward to building my own school as well as inspire others to become teachers,” he said.
According to him, anyone hoping to join education to get money should simply stop. “You will end up jumping from school to school looking for the best pay yet education is about impacting students,” he says.
Voice
“He was so helpful in helping me grasp the tactics of handling physical education drills.”
Naomi Apio, peer coach
“He is a strong leader. I always looked forward to working with him on every project that came up.”
Ezra Kizito, peer coach
“He helped me start in mechanics. We started with repairing bicycles but he would teach me how to ride motorcycles. Now I am fully into mechanics.”
Daniel Okiror, student
