
A member of Mackay College School’s Environmental Club waters pavers made at the school. PHOTO/OWEN
WAGABAZA
Clubs in schools have been part and parcel of Uganda’s education system since time immemorial, and of recent, new clubs that fit with current societal needs and aspirations are being formed and introduced in schools.
“Clubs such as mental health, environment, ICT, Rule of Law among others are relatively new in schools,” Ms Mary Mukasa Kalyango, the headteacher of Mackay Memorial College, Nateete explains.
Ms Kalyango, whose school has over 20 clubs explains that one of the reasons for the many clubs in the school is to try and encourage as many students to be part of at least one club.
“We encourage and support all these clubs so that there is a variety, in that a student can be able to choose at least one club that rhymes with their interests,” Ms Kalyango explains.
According to Ms Kalyango, school clubs offer students opportunities to improve teamwork, develop life skills, build networks, and boost confidence.
“The benefits of school clubs complement academic learning by enhancing the overall educational experience through hands-on involvement and real-world applications,” she says.
Mr Peter Ssenkaali, a human resource specialist and lecturer of Organisational Psychology at Makerere University explains that education is more than academics and technical qualifications.
“There is so much focus on academic excellence in Ugandan schools today that students are hardly left with any time for learning life skills. Yet, research has over the years shown that academics need to be complimented with application of knowledge and skills in life for a holistic education. Unfortunately, most of our educational institutions are either oblivious of this basic fact or gloss over this vital aspect of learning,” he says.
Mr Ssenkaali, however, observes that of recent, there has been a positive trend with more school administrators encouraging and supporting clubs in their schools enabling students to attain life long skills that will help them deal effectively with the demands and challenges of life.
Mr Ayub Kato, a renowned human resource expert and founder of Smiling faces International explains that school clubs teach their members skills that can help them get the most out of life.
“It is these skills and competencies that help them navigate life’s journey successfully and provide one with happiness, contentment and fulfillment,” he says.
Earning big from school clubs
As schools open today for the new school year, a number of parents at Mackay College School Nateete will be relieved to hear that the school will deduct a certain percentage off their children’s school fees and they will also be provided with some good pocket money, courtesy of their children’ involvement in the school’s environmental club activities.
Other than coming up with interventions to protect the environment, members of the Mackay College environmental Club make pavers which they sell to the school and earn money.
Ms Velma Nandera, a S.3 student at the school and the president of the environment club says they came up with the idea to provide pavers for the walkways, but soon realized that they were killing two birds with one stone, earning money while at the same time learning a life-long skill. “I have learnt to make pavers, and when I finish school, I am very hopeful that I will start up a paver making business to supplement my day job income,” Nandera says.
According to the headteacher, the school provides the equipment as well as the materials, notably cement, sand and water and the students provide labour.
To equitably pay the students effort, the school computes the amount of pavers made with the market price and it is from here that the cost of the materials invested is deducted and the balance is shared among the students as labour fees.
In the third term of 2024, each student, depending on the pavers they had individually made received between sh130,000 and sh250,000. “We gave each one pocket money of sh30,000 each and the rest was topped up on their school fees,”Ms Kalyango explains.
According to the headteacher, a big chunk of the money is put on school fees because students use the time to help their parents to make the pavers. “They make the pavers after lessons, that is between 5pm and 6pm and during the holidays. It is therefore important that parents see the value of their children busying themselves during such times,” she explains.
Francis Mayega, a S.2 student and member of the environment club says he joined the club to make friends and learn new skills and is glad that he is even making money. “I was paid sh130000, sh100,000 went to my school fees and sh30,000 was given to me as my pocket money. This was unexpected,” Mayega says.
Nabukeera Martha, also in S.2 plans to ably use the skills she is acquiring when she is through with school. “I will no doubt start a paver making enterprise to boost my incomes, I am already earning while in school and somehow helping my parents with the school fees burden, there is no turning back,” says Nabukeera.
Other than earning money, Ms Kalyango says clubs come with many benefits and encourages students everywhere to find a club of their interests and join.
“We have seen tremendous changes among our students. Their engagement in the clubs has helped them learn several things. Before the clubs, they were timid, shy, and lacked confidence. But today, they are disciplined, have obtained leadership skills, and their public speaking has greatly improved,” says Ms Kalyango.