APPEAL FOR SPIRITUAL, FINANCIAL AND MATERIAL SUPPORT
1 Challenges
Kisoko Schools are presently faced with a number of challenges that have severely affected both academic and performance outside the classroom. These challenges are highlighted below.
1.1 Cross – cutting issues
The schools:
a) Are still operating in buildings that the missionaries constructed. For the primary schools, the buildings were constructed in the 1930s. The dormitory block of KBPS has even been condemned and cannot be used any more. Those of KHS were constructed in the 1950s.
b) Do not have any library facilities to aid learners in carrying out private study
a) Have limited facilities to accommodate boarding section
b) Are operating with very small budgets due to highly limited revenue sources
c) Have no teachers’ quarters
d) Have no perimeter fencing to provide security. The fence that the missionaries constructed around KGPS in the 1930s got old and was vandalized long time ago exposing the girls to all sorts of risks
e) Lack the appropriate technology to enable them provide tests to students/pupils. The learners wait to sit for end of term or year examinations
f) Experience low morale among teachers due to lack of motivation
g) Have parents who do not show interest in their children’s academic performance
h) Lack ICT facilities to aid in proper financial management of school funds
1.2 Challenges unique to Kisoko High School
a) In 2002, students organised a strike during which the head teacher’s office and the school library were completely torched.
b) Enrollment of students with poor grades
c) Students’ negative attitudes towards academics
d) The environment around the school is not conducive for day scholars due to modern life styles within the fast growing urban centre within the surrounding.
e) Low student population and therefore limited resource envelope to finance academic programs. By the beginning of 2017, the population was less than 50 students. Currently, it stands at only 160.
2 Way Forward
In order to restore Kisoko Schools to their past glory, the current head teachers recognize that concrete steps and bold decisions have to be taken, moreover urgently. The first of these steps entails having the schools to develop their respective strategic plans. The strategic plans will provide road maps to address the challenges the schools are presently faced with and come out with short, medium and long-term solutions. In this regard, George Stephen Ochwo, an Old Boy (OB) of KBPS school and a born of Kisoko Village, has volunteered to develop Strategic Plans for Kisoko Schools at NO cost to the schools. Stephen is the Managing Director of Centre for Research, Accountancy and Management Consultants (CRAMAC), a private firm whose offices are located on Plot 11, Makhan Singh Street, Mbarara Municipality in Mbarara District. We believe that together, Kisoko Schools can be great again.
3.1 Strategic Planning Process
According to the expert and initiator of the strategic planning process, its development will be done in three phases as outlined below;
1) Phase 1: Organizing the three Head Teachers to visit Mbarara Municipal School, Ntare School, Mbarara High School, Maryhill High School and Kinoni Girls School for bench-marking, experience sharing and lesson learning.
2) Phase 2: Organizing a one-day stakeholders workshop to brainstorm on the preliminaries for the Strategic Plans
3) Phase 3: Strategic Plan Development for the three schools
All costs associated with Strategic Plan development amounting to UGX9,422,500 are shown in the budget. However, outside the strategic plan development, in the short-term, the schools urgently need to address the challenge of learners not having any tests before sitting final examinations. Though more needs to be done, the following steps have been taken towards solving this challenge: -
1) The two primary schools have been linked to Mbarara Municipal School. Under the linkage, Mbarara Municipal School management has accepted to share beginning of term (BOT), weekly and midterm tests and end of term (EOT) examinations with Kisoko Girls’ and Kisoko Boys’ Primary Schools. Classes slated to benefit from this arrangement are from primary four to primary seven. Whereas this arrangement took off with only primary seven during the second term, for third term, the other classes got on board. We would like to thank so much Mbarara Municipal School management and staff for this kind gesture. There is, however, associated costs involving subscription and payment for the tests and examination papers. These costs are articulated in the budget.
2) Much as the linkage with Mbarara Municipal School will greatly assist in addressing the poor academic performance of the primary schools, in the interim, Kisoko Schools need to immediately integrate Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) into their programs to enable them achieve better teaching outcomes. Each of the schools needs personal computers (PCs), photocopiers and a software to address challenges regarding tests, examinations and financial management.
All the costs associated with BOT, weekly and midterm tests including EOT and ICT costs totals to UGX51,402,000 are shown in the budget framework enclosed. The 5% contingency/overhead cost is UGX3,041,225 together with the strategic plan development cost of UGX9,422,500 the total budget is UGX63,865,725. The breakdown of the budget is enclosed for ease of reference.
This is a passionate appeal to you/the organization for spiritual, financial and material support to enable Kisoko Schools address some of the challenges highlighted above. Spiritual support can be delivered through prayer while financial support can be channeled through the following bank details:
Bank: Development Finance Company of Uganda (DFCU)
Branch: Tororo Branch
Account Number: 01261016165743
Account Title: Gheno Were Asaph Nasirumbi Grace Akoth Yerusa
For material support, the head teachers can be contacted on the telephone numbers listed here under.
Together We Can Make Kisoko Schools Great Again
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Gheno Were Asaph Grace Nasirumbi Yerusa Akoth
Headmaster Kisoko BPS Headmistress Kisoko HS Headmistress Kisoko GPS
0772 355363 0776 627541 0772 376857
0702 001819 0752 627541
