TEACH - Targeting Educational Advancement for Children

Muko High School

In 2017, the Diocese of Kigezi asked ACT to partner in the administration of Muko High School. ACT agreed to the partnership and The U.S. TEACH Team and the Board of Governors in Uganda (school board) was formed to begin the administration of Muko High School. A flurry of activity began in December, 2017 - hiring a Head Teacher, a Deputy Head Teacher, a Director of Studies, and a Bursar (Treasurer); reorganizing ACT staff to provide supervision and assistance with managing incoming grants and gifts; making significant physical renovations to the school; and, of course, planning academic innovations. Classes began in February, 2018.

Physical Improvements

Many changes have been made to the campus to improve the learning and for safety of the students. Pictured above is the water system, designed and installed by a Kenyan company to provide safe drinking water throughout the year - even in drought. Midland Rotary contributed to this project. The concrete floors throughout the campus have been redone and a ledge outside the buildings provided. New shutters, new individual desks (instead of 3-4 students at one), classrooms and dormitories and the entire outside of the school newly painted. New roofing for one wing of the school has been installed. The cost of this update was covered by the generous donors from Giving Tuesday, November, 2020 and the Old Boys/Old Girls (alumni) organization of Muko High School. The PTA has re-energized in their support of the school. The entire school now has a beautiful new security fence. This was supported by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Midland, MI.

The Case for a Science Lab

The Ugandan government has prioritized progress in science and technology as it aspires to build a knowledge-based economy. To this end, schools are working hard to maintain the best teachers in science and technology but also improving the space and equipment to teach within.

In Uganda, girls are particularly under-represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. There is low enrolment, poor performance, and high numbers of dropouts. In 2014, a government report revealed a severe drop between 2009 and 2014 in the percentage of girls passing biology and mathematics examinations. This gender gap reduces the number of women who pursue STEM careers. For instance, currently less than a third of science researchers in Uganda are women.

Although the Ugandan Government has put measures in place to address this gap, such as the 2018 Gender in Education Policy, the performance of girls and women in national STEM examinations continues to be poorer than that of boys and men. Gender bias amongst teachers remains prevalent and is a significant barrier to achieving gender equality as teachers play a pivotal role in setting norms. There is now a push in Uganda to provide continuous professional development for teachers to improve their teaching quality, gender responsiveness, and inclusiveness, especially in STEM. (excerpt from UNESCO)

ROSE (the Relevance Of Science Education)

The purpose of ROSE is to gather and analyze information from the students about several factors that have a bearing on their attitudes to science and technology (S&T) and their motivation to learn. ROSE has, through international deliberations, workshops and piloting among many research partners, developed an instrument that aims to map out attitudinal or affective perspectives on S&T in education and in society as seen by 15 year old learners.

Out of about 34 countries, here is a sample from Uganda responses when asked certain questions to measure the attitude toward Science by 15 year-olds:

·       “Science and technology are important for society”: Uganda scored the fourth highest in positive attitude.

·       “Science and technology make our lives healthier, easier and more comfortable”: Ugandans were the third highest vote.

·       “Science and technology make our lives healthier, easier and more comfortable”: tied for third highest vote

·       “I like school science better than most other subjects”: scored the second highest

·       “I would like to have as much science as possible at school”: scored the second highest

In total, out of all the questions asked, Uganda scored the highest in positive attitude toward learning science, math and technology. So, along with the emphasis by the Ugandan Ministry of Education, there is a strong yearning for better science education.

Up until now, Muko High School has had a single room approximately 15 ft by 15 ft, dark with no power for lights, old, decrepit shelves with limited hands on items and chemicals to teach science. Today, we are halfway finished building a new Science Lab! The walls are up, the roof is going on but we have lots more to do. This new building will house Chemistry, Biology, Physics and Agriculture. The excitement is palpable among the students and teachers. If you would like to contribute to this effort, we still need approximately $45,000 USD to complete the Lab. Donate

Academic Improvements

ACT is focused on supporting the teaching staff in every way possible. Members of the Travel Team in February 2019, provided some training in Basic Mental Health and Teaching Methodologies. The teachers also brainstormed their challenges and ideas and we are working on those! We provided textbooks to every student in two classes for the first time ever. We plan to purchase more textbooks for all the classes. Equipment such as globes, maps, microscopes and more were prioritized by the teachers and we supplied those. Currently, we are asking the teachers to tell us more of what they need and want to learn and we will work together to provide it. The team going in November, 2021 will also provide some training.

Scholarships

HONOR Scholarships (Hope Opportunity Need Ownership Respect)

It is hard for many of us in the U.S. to imagine our child not being able to receive an education.  But being able to attend school can be a struggle for many students in Muko Sub-County.  All students attending Muko High School must pay tuition.  Additionally, due to distances traveled and lack of dependable transportation, many of those who attend school must reside at the school, which is an additional cost.  This can become too expensive for some families.  In the past, there were students who worked on the grounds of the school to help with their tuition (work-study program). This created a “class system” within the student body causing the work-study students to be treated differently than the other students. Additionally, an issue facing young girls whose parents cannot afford tuition, is the possibility of being forced into marriage at a very young age. 

To help alleviate these issues, and more, we are now offering full “need-based” scholarships called HONOR Scholarships for Muko High School students who are eager to be in school and serious about their studies.  To be considered for this scholarship, students must go through an application process which is then reviewed by a committee consisting of Muko High School and ACT personnel.  In order to keep the scholarship, students must continue to show good progress toward their studies.

The HONORS Program is funded by donations, so the more money raised, the more scholarships we can offer. $300 covers one year of room, board and tuition for one student.  

If you are interested in helping provide schooling for eager and dedicated students, $25 per month for one year would cover one student; $50 per month for one year would cover two, etc.  For planning purposes, a monthly commitment is encouraged, but one time donations of any amount would also be greatly appreciated and very beneficial.  The more money raised, the more students will be able to achieve their dreams.

To donate, please click on the box below, or contact Karen Viele at ksmov3@gmail.com.

Maverick Leadership Scholarships

These merit-based Scholarships were initiated in 2015 with the inspiration of wanting to cultivate leadership in the country of Uganda. This “merit-based” scholarship is named in memory of Greg Peterson, whose nickname was “Maverick“, because of his charismatic, take-charge leader personality. The goal of the scholarship is to support promising young leaders in Muko Sub-County through higher education opportunities. These scholars apply and are selected for their potential leadership not because of need. The hope is that these young people, once educated, will affect changes in their communities by providing leadership and community organizing. We believe that through the vision and leadership of one individual the world is changed.

That hope has already been realized! Among other Maverick Scholars, Judith Tukahirwe, our very first scholar, has graduated from her nursing program with a degree certificate in midwifery and has been hired as a member of the ACT MukoHOPE staff in Uganda managing the sponsored HONORS Scholars and their health as well as providing leadership of the HEAL (Health is Elemental to All Life) program. Because every student is unique and has special gifts, the applicants can choose to go to a particular vocational school or university.

To donate, please click on the box below, or contact Toni Stanfield at toniastan@aol.com