“I now seat comfortably on our desk in class with enough space to write during the lesson” said one of the pupils at one of the eleven schools that benefitted from the distribution of 320 desks to Kampala Capital City aided primary schools around Kampala by AFFCAD under the Local Coalition Accelerator funded by the Hilton Foundation through The Share Trust.
School furniture plays a significant role in the effectiveness of pupil learning. The right furniture increases pupil collaboration, focus and engagement. Government Schools are usually characterised by a high number of pupils enrolled due to that fact that the education is subsided leading to high numbers of pupils and yet resources are limited. AFFCAD with support from the Hilton Foundation and the Share Trust distributed 320 desks including adjustable desks for children with disabilities to 11 government aided schools in Kampala that were selected based on highest enrolment of pupils including refugees and children with disabilities. The aim of the provision of these desks was to create a good and enabling learning environment for pupils to ensure better learning outcomes like increase in enrolment and retention of pupils especially for those from vulnerable communities.
What informed the distribution was a needs assessment carried out in February, 2023 by AFFCAD under the LCA in collaboration with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Education and Social Services Department in 17 KCCA aided Schools to assess education gaps. The assessment focused on pupil enrolment, identifying needs related to learning materials, equipment and learning environment including that for persons living with disabilities and refugees. It was discovered that on average, there was a 17% decline in enrolment between 2022-2023 and this was majorly attributed to lack of furniture and learning materials to facilitate a good learning environment among other issues like the socio-economic status. Another discovery was that the student to desk ratio was 5:1 which was above the government recommended ratio of 3:1 and that of the schools with children with dissabilites did not have furniture specially made them which made learning difficult for them
The eleven schools that were selected included; Nakivubo Blue Primary School, Kawempe Mobogo Primary School, Kyaggwe Road Primary School, Kitebi Primary School, Katwe Primary School, Nateete Muslim Primary School, St. Ponsiano Kyamula Primary School, Kawempe Ttula C.O.U Primary School, Ggaba Demonstration Primary School, Mpererwe C.O.U Primary School and Kyambogo Primary School.
“As AFFCAD, we closely work with local stakeholders to guide our work. We ensure that they are part of the planning and implementation of our projects to ensure that we are providing them with the right services based on their needs. We hope that the furniture provided to the different schools will provide a conducive learning environment that will ensure their education success” Ms. Prudence Atukwatse said at the launch ceremony of the distribution of the desks.
The distribution of the desks to the various schools has significantly improved the learning environment of 1,050 pupils who are now utilising the desks by reducing the student to desk ratio from 5:1 to 3:1.
Pupils at Kawempe Mbogo Primary School utilising the desks
“I am very thankful to AFFCAD for thinking about children with disability as many struggle in class due to lack of specialised furniture to support them. For this gesture, As Kyambogo Primary School we shall forever be grateful for supporting our children,”
“I would like to thank AFFCAD for supporting our school with these desks as the school has been in dire need due to the large numbers of pupils enrolled at the schools. I would also like to bring it out that even though we have received these desks, we still need support with more desks and scholastic materials to ensure that we provide our children with quality education for a brighter future,” Ssenyunja Jamil, Head Teacher Kawempe Mbogo Muslim Primary School.
(L-R) Naomi Ayot Oyaro (LCA- Uganda Coordinator), Rusingye Alice (Supervisor Education Operations KCCA), Rehema KCCA Kawempe Division Education Officer, Prudence Atukwatse (Executive Director, AFFCAD) and Namudira Claudia (Deputy Headmistress, Kyambogo Primary School) launching the distribution of furniture for children with disabilities.
