Partner School
Kukanga Government Primary School
Our Third Partner School, 2010
 Kukanga Government Primary School is located just an hour's walk (5 km) from Kyamulinga Primary School (our 2nd partner school). 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 the 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, it has no cupboard, bookshelf, office furniture, sports equipment or educational materials.
School fees are free but parents are charged $2.70 a term/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 and 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!
Children’s academic performance at Kukanga School is excellent as evidenced by the performance of the 7th grade children on 2008 leaving exams. All 7th grade students passed. 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:
- Support for menstruating girls. One School has funded the purchase of supplies for a female kit: sanitary pads, extra clean uniforms and underwear, soap and wash basin.
- Students are hungry and need to eat lunch. It's hard to learn when you are hungry. One School has funded the items needed to expand the garden program so that more food is produced: seeds, hoes, rakes, spades, machetes, and a wheelbarrow. Parents are donating the cassava cuttings.
- Sports Program: Jane, the head teacher, told us that more children would come to school if there was a soccer ball! One School plans to supply soccer balls, uniforms and equipment for girl's netball after a budget and formal request are submitted.
- Clean Water System: Girls are collecting water from a nearby swamp (50 minute walk roundtrip). The water is shared by cattle and is contaminated. An on-site rooftop water collection system with an accompanying cistern and treadle pump are needed. One School has secured the funds and anticipates to build the system with community support after an official MOU is signed with Kukanga School (anticipated by Jan 2011).
- Teacher Housing: The Ugandan Government has an obligation to provide teacher housing but doe 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 will consider this request after an official MOU is signed with Kukanga School (anticipated by Jan 2011).
- New classrooms: Kukanga School had a previous donor who built the school a classroom building. Unfortunately, the construction of the building was flawed- it is beginning to crumble and is now a hazard to students. Kukanga needs new classrooms so children are not forced to attend class outside, a problem in the rainy season. One School will consider this request after an official MOU is signed with Kukanga School (anticipated by Jan 2011).
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