Partner School
Kukanga Government Primary School
Students in a class at Kukanga Primary School
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Kukanga Government Public Primary School is located just an hour's walk (5 km) from Kyamulinga Primary School (our 2nd partner school in Uganda). Jane Kibuuka, head teacher of Kukanga, has provided guidance and support to Kyamulinga School since its inception. One School at a Time was impressed with Jane's spirit of volunteerism, hard work and dedication to education at Kyamulinga School and we are delighted to now be working with her directly at the Kukanga School.
Kukanga Government Primary School, founded in 1982, is located on 30 acres of prime farm land. The school has 163 students from 1st to 7th grade and employs 8 teachers. The school's annual revenue from the Ugandan government is $750. In spite of the fact that the school has been in existence for 26 years, at the time we initiated our partnership Kukanga School had no bookshelves, office furniture, teacher's desk, sports equipment or educational materials.
Head Teacher Jane Kibuuka
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There are no school fees, but parents are charged $2.70 a term per student for school lunch. For term III of 2009, only 12 of the 163 students paid for lunch. The remaining 151 students had no lunch; thus no food all day while they were at school. Parents are subsistence farmers with little to no ability to generate cash - even $2.70/term for school lunch is too much!
The administration of Kukanga Primary School demonstrates exemplary leadership qualities and integrity and we welcome them to our program!
Kukanga School has identified the following needs:
Previous School Water Supply
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Clean Water System: The girl students had been collecting contaminated water from a nearby swamp (50 minute walk roundtrip). An on-site water system was badly needed. One School at a Time received a grant from Bead for Life that funded the entire system. The new water system, installed in May 2011, includes rooftop water collection with an accompanying 40,000 liter cistern and treadle pump.
- New classrooms: Kukanga School's classrooms were in poor shape: dirt floors, no doors, no windows and a leaky roof. Three classrooms, an office and a store-room were renovated the summer of 2011. The roof has been repaired, and a new verandah built. There are new cement floors, new lockable doors and windows, new paint, and new blackboards.
Renovated Kukanga Classroom
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- Support for menstruating girls: Bead For Life funded the purchase of supplies for a female kit: sanitary pads, extra clean uniforms and underwear, soap and wash-basin. A separate girl's changing and washing area was constructed. Menstruating girls now are more likely to stay in school since they receive this support.
- Students are hungry and need to eat lunch: It's hard to learn when you are hungry. One School at a Time funded the items needed to expand the farm program so that more food is produced: seeds, hoes, rakes, spades, machetes, and a wheelbarrow. Parents donated the cassava cuttings. In Dec 2010, the school expanded the number of acres cultivated- for the first time, they produced enough beans to require large storage bins. In 2011, Kukanga School planted 168 mango trees. Each student has
been assigned a tree to care for. In two and a half years, the school anticipates generating over $3,000/year from the sale of the mango fruit. These funds will be used to pay for the following potential expenses: security guard and school cook salaries, re-supply of girls sanitary kit, a maintenance fund for the water system and new classrooms, sports equipment, educational supplies and teacher bonuses.
- Sports Program: Jane, the head teacher, told us that more children would come to school if there was a soccer ball! One School at a Time supplied soccer balls and girls soccer uniforms. The Kukanga girl's soccer team is setting a new example - they are the first one to be established in the Mubende District!
- Teacher Housing: The Ugandan Government has an obligation to provide teacher housing but does not have the funds to comply. Teachers are traveling long distances to get to work and consequently are often late or absent (especially during the rainy season when travel is difficult or impossible). One School at a Time will train Kukanga administrators in grant-writing. A grant requesting funds for construction of teacher housing will be submitted in 2012.
- Ability to generate small funds for school programs: Kukanga School currently has no ability to generate cash. In order for the school to function sustainably, it must be able to make money. In Oct. 2011, Kukanga School purchased a solar powered cell phone charging station with funds donated by Bead For Life. Villagers welcome recharging their cell phones at school since previously they had to travel over two hours round trip, usually on foot, to a local shop which offered a charging station. Cash collected for charging cell phones will be used by Kukanga School to pay for a security guard, school cook, educational supplies, re-supply of the girl's sanitary kit, sports equipment, teacher bonuses and maintenance for the water system and new classrooms.
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