Schools – Nursery, Primary & Senior
Nursery School
We started our very own Nursery School at Uganda Lodge in May 2008 and now have over 40 students attending each day. They range in age from 2 – 7 years and we aim to have them speaking, reading and writing some English by the time they reach primary school.
Volunteers have brought in a variety of reading books (Ladybird Series are especially good) plus wall posters, colouring books, crayons, pencils and pens, and various toys (dolls, toy vehicles and building bricks)
We took advantage of Woolworth’s closing down sale in the UK and bought a selection of navy blue trousers, pinafore dresses and white shirts. Now the children are very smart in their new uniforms.
They arrive at school at 8am and have a break for breakfast – a mug of weak maize meal porri
dge called posho – at 9.30am.
Lessons continue until 12.30 when some return home and others stay to either eat a lunch they have ordered from the Lodge kitchens or one they brought in a plastic bucket. The afternoon session begins at 2pm until 4pm and usually usually includes sleep time for the youngest children.
We have set the school fee low as we appreciate many villager parents/carers have little disposable income. We have explained that teachers salaries, breakfasts and teaching aids must be covered by charging fees, because although the school was built from ‘Mzungu’ funding they cannot expect handouts forever – they must be self-financing.
Primary School
There are two primary schools within walking distance of Uganda Lodge, and many children from the surrounding villages attend for at least a few years. Although these government schools are ‘free’ for the first four children in a family, they still have to pay for uniforms, lunches, writing materials and donations towards building funds plus teachers salaries. If this is not paid up, they are often chased back home.
The children are usually expected to collect water and wood both before 
and after school, or alternatively you see small children in their school uniform walking along the road with a rake or a hoe. But they are all very keen to attend and never play truant – unless the parents purposefully keep them away to work on the farms or look after younger siblings.
Senior School
There is one government senior school in the locality which pupils who have completed and passed all the exams from seven years of primary schooling can attend. Many of these pupils come from great distances so they board either weekly or for the whole term. In theory lessons are held in English, but in practice they often have to be translated as many primary teachers do not have a high standard of English themselves.
A new private senior school has recently been opened in Nyamahani and so far classes are held for the first two years of high school – S1 and S2 The headmaster is requesting me to find a full-time qualified volunteer teacher to assist at his school.
Volunteers
This is an area where English-speaking volunteers can be especially helpful to students of all ages simply by assisting with reading or having conversations with them. No previous teaching or TEFL experience is needed, although if you do have a TEFL certificate you will have more understanding of exactly the best way to help.
Students also love volunteers to join in with playing sports or sharing in art and craft subjects.If you happen to be staying at the Lodge during school holidays (Dec+Jan; mid April-midMay; mid Sept- mid Oct) we have many parents who would like their children to attend informal “holiday classes”. Depending on your skills and interests we can help you organise these activities