Improved performance, fees attract students to Sebei College

Located eight kilometres west of Kapchorwa town along Mbale-Kapchorwa highway, the school – which sits on about 70 acres – currently boasts of a student population of about 1,630 learners both in ‘A’ and ‘O’ Levels thanks majorly to improved performances and affordable fees.

Ordinary Level learners pay Shs500,000 while their ‘A’ level counterparts pay Shs520, 000 a term.

According to Mr Johnson Limo, the school head teacher, the school was originally started as a junior secondary school by the then Bugisu local government with Mr Charles Wandukwa as its head teacher.

The aim was to make education accessible to the locals who were predominantly a nomadic pastoral tribe. 

“Sebei councillors lobbied for a school and this wish was granted when in 1965 it was transformed into a senior secondary school. Mr William Gleeson became the first head teacher,” Mr Limo says.

In 1981 it welcomed the first female learners.

Knowledge-rich curriculum 

Since then, the school has grown from one classroom block, and a mud and wattle staff room to a better organized structures, well stocked library, fully equipped laboratories and well qualified teachers.

He, however, says like any other school in the country, Sebei College Tegeres was negatively affected by the political turmoil which engulfed the country in the 1970s and 1980s.

“Its property was looted, enrolment declined and many qualified teachers went to Kenya in search of greener pastures. It is of recent that Sebei College regained its glory thanks majorly to the stability started by the former Head teacher Sam Cheptoris - the current Minister of Water and Environment,” Mr Limo says, adding that currently majority of the students in ‘A’ level are studying sciences.

“He gave the school time,” he says.

According to Mr Fred Mangusho, the Deputy Head teacher In-Charge of Curriculum, the school offers a knowledge- rich curriculum where 21 subjects are taught at both ‘O’ and ‘A’ levels including Technology and Design, Food Technology and nutrition, Art and design. 

These are some of the rarest subjects taught in the country, he says. 

“Because of the good performance we have continued to register an increasing number of students. Good performance attracts students,” Mr Mangusho, said, adding that five of the teachers at the school hold Masters Degrees.

According to the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) Performance over the last five years from 2018-2024, the school has posted improved results.

In 2018, the school registered 234 and 35 scored division one, 88 division two, 68 division three. In 2019, 234 sat for UCE and 53 got division one, 105 division two.

In 2020, 50 of the 243 candidates at the school scored division one, 102 passed in division two. 

Last year, 273 wrote UCE papers and 93 passed in Division One, while the previous year, of the 273 candidates who sat UCE, 54 scored Division One.

With the big population comes challenges, the school bursar, Mr Stephen Kulany Chelangat, says.

“The dormitories were designed to accommodate 400 students but at the moment the four boys’ dormitories accommodate 880 students while the 742 girls share five dormitories. We also do not have enough classrooms and the student-teacher ratio is unimaginable,” Mr Chelangat said, adding that there is a shortage of teachers’ accommodation. 

“Most of the teachers do not have where to sleep. Three teachers share one house. Many teachers are not on the payroll,” he said.

The school has 82 teaching staff and 24 non-teaching staff, 51 support staff. However, only 48 staff on payroll.

Ms Eva Namono, a parent, urged the government to put more emphasis on supporting traditional schools in the country as a significant number of them are struggling both financially and infrastructure.

“The traditional schools are facing stiff competition in terms of academic performance and population. Many traditional schools are teetering on the brink of collapse due to inadequate funds,”Ms Namono said.

In March this year, the government announced plans to expand and rehabilitate all traditional schools across the country to increase enrollment of learners. 

Milestones 

Set on the slopes of Mt. Elgon, the College’s scenery is surrounded by green hills and valleys.

While most schools have large tracts of land lying idle, Sebei College Tegeres has put the school land to good use, establishing a dairy farm with about 40 cows that produce about 50 litres of milk every day for the teachers and students, Mr Levi Konyi, the school farm manager says.

They also have 30 acres of land with bananas, maize, onions and other crops to supplement the students’ and staff food. This has helped the school to save some money.

Teachers and students are skilled in value addition. 

For example, most students can produce yoghurt.

Mr Mangusho says the school has also attracted several developmental partners to enhance academic performance.

For instance, the Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI) foundation, a charitable organisation, is equipping the learners in agriculture skills while East to West trains learners on crop husbandry practices.

This year the school - nickname SECOTE - won best greening schools in eastern Uganda award and best debating school of the year in greening schools competition.