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Little Big Africa first started working with
Lwemuna Primary School in 2007. In July and August 2007, the school
hosted a group of LBA volunteers from the University of Bristol
student group BVDA, who built a 10,000 litre water tank for the
school and taught pupils and teachers about Hygiene and Sanitation.
Since then, LBA has provided pupil and teacher curriculum subject
text books (through a donation from the BVDA volunteers); English
reading books at a variety of levels (through a donation from Our
Lady Queen of Heaven School); and a complete set of traditional
musical instruments (through a donation from Marlwood Secondary
School).
The School
Lwemuna Primary School is named after Lwemuna hill, a nearby hill,
which obtained its name from a pioneer native called Emuna. The
school was founded in 1940, becoming a Government aided school in
1984.
Classrooms
The school has seven classrooms, one for each class, three of which
are permanent and four of which are semi-permanent. This means in
P1, there are 188 pupils in the classroom with one teacher! Two new
permanent classrooms are being constructed: the brick walls of both
have been laid, and one of the classrooms now has rafters and its
iron sheet roof in place. The school is hosting volunteers this
month who are planning to plaster this classroom, though the school
will continue fundraising for the floor, door and windows.
Three semi-permanent classrooms were also started through
contributions from parents though it is only the foundations which
have been dug so far. These extra classrooms would allow for most of
the classes to divide into two streams, as all classes, apart from
P7 have over the Government’s recommended ration of one teacher per
60 pupils.
Pupils and Staff
The school has 740 pupils, 409 are boys and 331 are girls. They are
divided into one stream in each of the seven years of schooling,
with the highest number of pupils (188) in P1, the first year of
Primary school, and the smallest number (58) in P7, the final (and
examination) year of primary school. There are 11 teachers at the
school, 5 male and 6 female.
Despite having 740 pupils, the average attendance is approximately
650 pupils (approximately 87%) although this figure increases at
exam time and greatly decreases at other times. For example, during
the cultivation and planting seasons, attendance is about 500 pupils
(68%) and on market days many pupils may be absent as they are
either selling produce or buying goods for their homes. Other
reasons for general pupils absence include: lack of interest in
studying; parents (who are often uneducated themselves) not
encouraging and supporting their children to go to school; and early
marriages (about ten pupils drop out of the school each year to get
married).
Lessons
The school teaches the following subjects: English; Maths; SST
(Social Studies - compromising Geography, History, Civics and
Current Events); and Science, which are the four subjects pupils are
examined in at the end of Primary School, as well as IPS (Integrated
Production Skills such as art, craft and music); Mother Tongue
Language (which for Lwemuna is Lugisu); Religious Education;
Agriculture; PAPE (Performing Arts and Physical Education); News and
Swahili.
Exams
At the end of P7, the final class of Primary School, all pupils
should sit UPE (Universal Primary Education) exams. In 2007, Lwemuna
had 48 pupils registered to sit the exams, although 3 pupils were
unable to sit the exams when the time came. Of the 45 who sat the
exams, 36 passed and 9 failed. Of the 36 that passed, no candidates
obtained Division One (the highest grade category); 12 scored
Division Two; 12 scored Division Three; and 12 scored Division Four.
Latrines
The school used to have two blocks of latrines, with a total of 11
stances [individual cubicles] although one block sunk so there are
only four stances left. These are split into two for boys and two
for girls.
Extra-Curricular
After school activities include Sports, Music, Debating, Science
club, Scouting and Gardening. The school however does not have many
items needed for these activities such as balls, sports kits,
musical instruments, costumes, or football goals, though they do
have netball posts.
Feeding
The school feeds all the pupils a meal of porridge, made from maize
flour, every day, which helps with attendance.
Funding
Lwemuna Primary School, as with all other Government-funded Primary
Schools, is meant to receive 4,000 Uganda shillings (approximately
£1.30) every year for each pupil. This year, with a registration of
740 pupils, the school therefore expects to receive 2,960,000 Ush
(approximately £955). The school has however only received 296,000
Ush (approximately £95) this academic year, since the school year
opened in February. This money is meant to be used for scholastic
materials; Co-curriculum activities such as sports, games, music,
dance and drama (including a compulsory contribution to the Local
Government for participating in National Games and Music
Competitions); administration (including registers, markers, card
for wall charts); and Management (including Headteacher’s transport
to compulsory Local Government meetings), although teachers’
salaries are paid directly by the Local Government. This lack of
funds delays many school activities, including for example the
school’s ability to print exam papers for the upcoming exams.
Circumcision
2008 is a year for male circumcision for the Bagisu [the people of
the Mbale region], with the circumcision season opening in August.
This occurs every other year on even numbered years. During this
time attendance at school can also greatly reduce. Approximately 30
boys from classes P5-P7 will be circumcised and therefore miss
several days of school, although now it is becoming more common for
circumcision to take place in December when schools are closed for
the long holiday. However in August many pupils and teachers will be
absent from school as they support and cheer on those being
circumcised.
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