Kiryandongo schools receive science equipment to boost performance
“These kits are like mini-laboratories for schools that lack large science labs. If handled well, they can last up to 20 years,” Olore said.
Kiryandongo: Twenty primary schools in Kiryandongo district have received science kits from the Ministry of Education, a move that has sparked excitement among teachers who believe this will significantly boost science performance.
The kits, distributed on Friday at Kiryandongo Church of Uganda Primary School, contain microscopes, pulleys, gear systems, models of the human heart, male and female reproductive systems, human skin, electric circuit components, and skeletons, among other instructional tools.
Bonny Olumu, headteacher at Yelekeni Primary School in Bweyale Town Council, welcomed the initiative enthusiastically.
“If we were getting good results using only extracts and imagination, imagine the improvement now that we can teach practically. Performance is going to improve greatly since everything is now hands-on,” Olumu said.
Previously, teachers faced challenges in teaching topics such as internal body organs due to lack of visual or practical aids. William Odongo, a coordinating centre tutor at Bulera Core Primary Teachers’ College, explained:
“The lack of practical science in primary schools has created negative attitudes toward the subject. Now, learners will see and touch what they are learning. This will help teachers teach from an informed and demonstrative point of view.”
Margaret Olore, the Advocacy and Communication Manager at River Flow International, delivered the science kits on behalf of the Ministry of Education. She emphasized the importance of proper use and maintenance.
“These kits are like mini-laboratories for schools that lack large science labs. If handled well, they can last up to 20 years,” Olore said.
She added that experts will soon visit schools to train teachers on how to assemble and dismantle the equipment properly. The objective, she noted, is to shift from theoretical to practical science learning.
“We want to eliminate rote learning and help students engage with science through observation and experimentation. This foundation is key for future scientific innovation,” Olore added.
The kits were provided under the fourth phase of the project. Olore confirmed that more schools will benefit in upcoming phases.
Edward Kiirya, the Kiryandongo District Education Officer, expressed appreciation to the Ministry of Education for including the district in the initiative.
“Out of 79 government-aided schools in Kiryandongo, 20 have benefited. We are committed to putting this equipment to proper use,” Kiirya said.
Resident District Commissioner Dan Muganga warned against misuse of the kits and urged school managers to collaborate with neighboring schools that did not receive kits.
“These tools are meant to enhance learner skills not for sale. The government’s focus on science is not to discredit arts, but to promote innovation and job creation so Uganda can become a First World country,” Muganga stated.
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