US donates 1.5 million books to 5,000 Uganda primary schools

State minister for Primary Education John Chrysostom Muyingo (R) receives primary school text books from US Ambassador Deborah Malac in Ntinda, Kampala, on Wednesday. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA 

In Summary

Aim. It is hoped the books, which are written in 12 different local languages, will improve the pupils’ reading skills and literacy level.

Kampala. At least 5, 000 primary schools have started receiving pupil and teachers learners’ books courtesy of the United States (US) government.
The schools, spread across 44 of Uganda’s 111 districts, will in total get 1.5 million books from the United States Agency for International Development (Usaid).
It is hoped the books, which are written in 12 local languages, will improve the pupils’ reading and literacy.
While flagging off the distribution of some of the books on Wednesday in Kampala, the US Ambassador to Uganda, Ms Deborah Malac, said she was delighted to be partnering with the Education ministry to give many children a head start they deserve.

“Thousands of teachers in grades one to four…will now be able to teach reading in English and local languages with greater ease and confidence,” Ms Malac said.
State minister for Primary Education Chrysostom Muyingo, the permanent secretary in the ministry of Education, Ms Rose Nassali Lukwago, the director of the National Curriculum Development Centre, Ms Grace Baguma, commissioner for Special Needs Education Martin Omagor-Loican and commissioner Basic Education Daniel Nkaada attended the event.

Dr Muyingo urged district education officers, teachers and parents to ensure the books reach the pupils.
“We’ve had cases in the past where things have left Kampala for some place though they somehow found their way back to Kampala. These materials should reach the pupils,” he said. Dr Nassali added: “These books should not be kept in boxes. When they are out of the boxes, let them not be stolen. If they are stolen, let them be read.”
Government provides instructional materials for all levels but the Education ministry says they are not enough.

The background
Last year, a Finance ministry report tasked the education sector to improve its procuring of instructional materials for primary schools. The report found that the ministry had already spent Shs14.6b of the Shs 17.3b allocated, yet only 25 per cent of procurements had been delivered by June 30, 2015.

nwesonga@ug.nationmedia.com