Schools for Refugees

SUPPORTING EDUCATION FOR REFUGEES IN UGANDA

On August 16, 2021, the First Lady and Minister for Education and Sport of Uganda extended the school lock down until vaccination is administered to all teachers and other school staff and students 12-18 years old. There is a published plan to catch up to the regular school calendar by the academic year 2023. That plan may change due to the extended lockdown. In March, 2020, all Uganda schools were closed due to the pandemic. The school year began on February 1, 2020. During 2020 and 2021, the schools were allowed to reopen in phases. Grade primary 7 at St. Bakhita N&P reopened on October 15, 2020 and the year ended for them on April 5, 2021. Primary 6 reopened on March 1, 2021, and their school year ended on June 4. Primary 4 and 5 reopened on April 6, 2021 and their school year ended on June 4. Primary school grades 1, 2 and 3 were scheduled to attend classes from June 4 through July 24, 2021. Social distancing, face covering and other required precautions are strictly enforced. Due to the square footage of the classrooms, class sizes are reduced from up to 90 to no more than 36. SFR paid 17 teachers through December, 2020, at which time the community assumed primary financial responsibility for the operations of the primary school. The Uganda government may soon subsidize wages for qualified primary teachers which would supplement the reduced revenue associated with the reopening schedule. Dates for reopening the closed three-year nursery program has not been determined. Schools for Refugees continues to provide scholarship aid to 28 secondary(high school) students who graduated from St. Bakhita N&P. Of those, the 7 in secondary 4 completed their school year in April, 2021 and the 5 in secondary 3 are attending classes through May 21. 4 in secondary 1 returned on April 12 and will complete their year on July 3. Secondary 2 will return on May 31 and complete their year on July 24. The primary and secondary school calendars have been set through 2023 to get the students back on track without a lost year.

The Uganda government closed schools, including St. Bakhita Nursery and Primary School until May 19, 2020 due to the concern about spreading the covid-19 virus. That date may be extended. The students and teachers are staying close to home and due to lack of text books and computers, formal … [Read more...]

2018 Term Three November Update

October Visit to School Charlie and Susan, along with Rose Ellen and Bob Harmon, Ann Noyes and Julie Pew, visited the school in October, 2018. Bob and Rose Ellen  delivered seven laptop computers donated by Norway Savings Bank, as well as school supplies and 110 tee shirts and the colored … [Read more...]

October 2017 Trip to Uganda

  The Ugandan school year runs from February through November, so the 2017 school year has just come to an end. From October 19 through October 25, Charlie and Susan Roscoe visited St. Bakhita Nursery and Primary School and Panyadoli Secondary School in the Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in … [Read more...]

Bowdoin College Students’ Blog

We have left Kiryandongo. Osborn is visiting his family in Kenya, and I meanwhile am staying in Entebbe until my flight. But, as I rest and mull and organize my notes and photos, I realize there are a few more points of interest I'd like to share. I'll start with a correction. A few posts ago I … [Read more...]