World Teachers' Day

On this World Teachers’ Day we are highlighting the voices of our educators, who continue to support our students’ academic growth. We are inspired by these leaders who have adapted their teaching methods to serve each child throughout the continued school closures.

I am Wanyama Dan, the Director of Studies and teacher of History and Religious Education for S.2 and S.3 students at Raise the Roof High School. 

Raise the Roof High School had just opened this year, and the parents, students, and teachers were excited with great hope and expectations. This was shuttered by the outbreak of COVID-19 and the closure of schools. 

When the normal school operation broke down, we continued with education through the study groups in each village, because we believe that the greatest impact we can create is at the community level. The teaching was individualized in small community groups. As an educational administrator, my responsibilities target the supervision of different study groups, teachers, students, and caregivers who are operating within the community. 

I am privileged as an educator to be a pillar in ensuring that each child attains a holistic education, and I am inspired to be a part of the success story of each child attached to me. 

I have hope that our children will be equipped with a wide skillset that will make them independent and productive members of the community. 

Therefore, the engagement of teachers, caregivers, and students at the community level gives every stakeholder a role to play. We believe that when we stand together we have a brighter future. Together, we have created a sense of belonging, unity, and commitment, with everyone accountable for the success of our children’s studies and wellbeing. 

I am John Nsubuga, a teacher of Social Studies in P.4 and Local Language (Luganda) in P.3. I also work as the head of the Lower Section at the Primary School. 

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, I used to guide, counsel, monitor, and teach students at school. Since the pandemic began, things have changed. I now meet my students in their communities through the study groups. 

Through this program, I am now able to directly interact with my students in their communities, working together with their caregivers. This has helped me to clearly understand the challenges my students and their caregivers face. 

The hospitality and appreciation each person shows to me gives me strength and courage to go on. I am inspired to keep meeting with students, in order to guide and council them on how to manage challenging relationships and discussing the importance of receiving and education. 

I am now praying so hard that my students take my advice and keep believe that brighter days are yet to come. 

I am Ssekidde Michael, a Chemistry and Biology teacher at Raise the Roof High School. 

Before COVID-19, I had to make sure that learners would report to school in time for morning lessons, organize classrooms for lessons, and prepare practical lessons. Because of the outbreak, these tasks are no longer possible. To try and keep our learners engaged in the educational system, we grouped them into study groups, from where I monitor their attendance and organize them for lessons. 

In the study groups that we formed, students are regularly attended to for academic issues, guidance, and counseling provided by teachers and community members.  

The students’ eagerness to learn and their willingness to be guided by a teacher motivates me as an educator, and their curiosity to explore new things gives me inspiration. 

Through the efforts employed, as an educator, I would like to see my students excel in both education and life. 

I am David Mufuma, a teacher of Social Studies and Religious Education in the P.7 Class. 

Things were moving on well until March 20, 2020 when the government forced us to close schools prematurely as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Since then, a lot of things have changed. 

Students no longer come to the school. Instead, we resorted to teaching them from within their respective communities. This program has bonded me as a teacher with caregivers and students who I meet in their respective homes. It has also helped me to better understand the needs of each student.  

I continuously go into the community to help my students in different aspects of their life. I believe that the continuation of this program will help my students remain in a learning environment and maintain an academic mood until the schools re-open.

My name is Melabu Nambi, and I teach Language Development and Health Habits in the Baby Class at Raise the Roof’s Nursery School. 

Unfortunately, we are no longer in school because of COVID-19, which we have seen affect the whole world and each student. Throughout the pandemic, I have provided counseling and guidance among the students in the community, telling them:  

“Trust the Lord. Pray for each other, and follow the Standard Operating Procedures.” 

 I like associating with my students because it brings me great joy. I love teaching, as it is a dream that I have fulfilled. I also love the children and teaching them because they are the pillars of tomorrow. 

I hope that a vaccine for COVID-19 will be discovered soon, so that I can reunite with my babies in the classroom. 

I am Jacob Waikyamaiso, and I teach Religious Education and Social Studies in P.4 and P.5 at Raise the Roof’s Primary School. 

Before COVID-19, as a teacher, I was handling students in a classroom for academics and outside of the classroom for extra-curricular activities. Since the outbreak, I changed from teaching in the classroom to teaching in the community, where my roles and responsibilities were adjusted so that I started to include guidance and counseling sessions, which changed their attitudes towards learning. We also started making simple crafts, which led students’ skill development and creativity.

As a teacher who operates in the community, my relationships with caregivers have been strengthened, as many caregivers have had a chance to interact with me since I am operating closer to their respective residencies. The same has happened with the student-teacher relationship. 

Motivation is what gets you started, and the joy of teaching motivates me as an educator. I love teaching because there is always something to work towards – an end goal. As a teacher, I believe that I am a responsible and important member of the community, and my professional efforts will affect the upbringing of each child. I am inspired when I see my students succeeding in all aspects of life. I hope my students become self-reliant and God fearing citizens. 

My name is Ssemata Henry, and I am a Mathematics teacher for the P.7 and P.4 classes. 

My ways of teaching have changed during this period of COVID-19, since before the outbreak pupils would come to school be together as a class. During this current period, pupils are place in study groups based on their classes, villages, and centers. The groups have helped me interact with my pupils, despite the spread of the pandemic.

I continue to be motivated by the way my pupils associate in groups and by their attitude towards education. I greatly hope that my pupils will have bright futures because of their positive attitudes toward education. 

I am Nalubwama Gladys, and I teach the Middle Class of the Nursery Section. I teach Language Development and Health Habits. 

My role and responsibility as a teacher has changed during COVID-19, as I now travel to study groups to meet my students. We had a talent program, where we gathered all the students from their homes so that they could practice music, dance, and drama.

Teaching little children motivates, and I love my profession and the children I work with. When I see my students passing with high grades, it inspires me to continue teaching. My greatest hope is that I wish to see my students as future teachers, nurses, and doctors. I look forward to when the schools re-open and we can continue with the traditional teaching and learning process. I dearly miss having my children in class.  

I am Ssennono Vincent, and I teach Science in the Upper Primary section at RTRA. It’s a pleasure that, throughout this pandemic, I have had the chance to interact with my pupils in their communities. It has been a big change. Before COVID-19, the children could come to school. Now, I go to the communities to teach them in the study groups.

Previously, I could attend to my children the whole day, but now, learning is in sessions each morning and afternoon. 

As an educator, I am always pleased to see that my pupils are healthy, that they love what they are learning, and that they are exercising their knowledge and putting it into practice. I also love working in a God fearing, peaceful environment.  

With each class, I hope that my children will excel in their final exams and graduate to the next level. I hope that they become important people in the future.

I am Kiiza Emmanuel, a teacher of the English language in P.6 and P.7 at the Primary School. 

Throughout COVID-19, there has been a recognizable change in my role and responsibility as a teacher. I now travel to students’ homes with my co-teacher on a motorcycle to offer guidance and counselling to them, as well as helping them with their academics. This model of teaching in the community has helped me interact with my students and their caregivers hence knowing their challenges and how to help them solve those challenges. Therefore, I hope to handle each student differently when they resume classes at the school. 

My students’ enthusiasm towards learning motivates me to continue teaching them, even when I have to travel to their communities. I am inspired by the good work, both social and academic, exhibited by my students and their caregivers.

I really love my students, and I hope to see them grow into successful professionals. I pray that God takes away the Coronavirus, so that I may resume teaching at the school because I miss having my students in class.