Quiz

Caning is banned. But

e
some teachers still can
and use other physical
punishments. Tell us
you r stor ies of why this is happening (we
do not hav e to pub lish your names). How do
a pupil? How do
you feel when you punish
How else can you
you think the pupil feels?
d your true stories
discipline your pupils? Sen to PO Box
ent
of discipline and punishm
a 2009 diary. MOES
22633, Kampala and win punishment.
es to corporal
has published a book: Alternativ
rwa, Acting Principal Education
For a copy, call E Kusemere
RWR\RXUQHDUHVW37&
2IÀFHURUJ

Vol. 7 No. 1 Feb 2009

Live up to the highest standards of the teaching profession

6HPXMMX:LOOLDPKHDGWHDFKHURI
H ave you ever been told
that you are a good
teacher? How did you feel
Kasubi C/U PS, Kampala:

about it? You certainly felt "A good teacher must have good
great. customer care. My pupils and
parents are my clients. Children
Think about what makes a tell parents about good and bad
good teacher, a teacher who teachers. We must listen and give
is appreciated by pupils, respect to children and parents.
parents, fellow teachers and I look at teaching as a call to
community members. serve. Now I have been rewarded."
Swaibu Kawooya, headteacher 6HPXMMXZDVRQHRIWKH
Kyambogo PS says, "A good
teacher is a person who conducts headteachers recognised for
himself or herself professionally." excellent performance at the
Teacher's Day celebrations on 6
Being professional means you: October, 2008 in Kampala.
‡DUHDOZD\VSUHSDUHG
‡KDYHNQRZOHGJHRI\RXUVXEMHFW Yes, doing your best pays and
‡SHUIRUP\RXUZRUNHIIHFWLYHO\ PDNHV\RXIHHOJRRG,WSURPRWHV
‡FRQGXFW\RXUVHOIZHOO HIIHFWLYHOHDUQLQJDQGWHDFKLQJ
‡KDYHDSRVLWLYHDWWLWXGH Beware of alcohol abuse and other
‡FDUHIRU\RXUSXSLOV EHKDYLRXUVWKDWFDQXQGHUPLQH
‡PDQDJH\RXUWLPHZHOO your professionalism.
‡IRFXVRQWKHSRVLWLYHVLGHRI
teaching. "A child is the first
inspector for every
These qualities will enable you to
command respect as explained by teacher."

2008 PLE lts

results
PLE resu Be responsible - monitor
a decline
The 2008 PLE results show
in performance. Out of the 463,631
pupils' performance - MoES Headteacher
candidates who sat the PLE in 2008, only
17,021 (3.7%) passed in division one. In B eing professional means
PDNLQJVXUHWKDWSXSLOV
apply what you teach
unprofessional. Alcohol leads
to failure to perform. The
teacher's code of conduct
Gonsya Richard, headteacher,
Mapeera PS, Kampala, is our
Kibuye
headteacher. He always picks star
contrast, in 2007, 7.6% of pupils passed Youn
in division one. The failure rate also rose WKHPWRWKHLUOLYHV<RX VSHDNVRIDOFRKRODVDGRQ
W Talk copies for his pupils from g
from 13.5% in 2007 to 20% in 2008. A need to be responsible and for teachers. the Post Office on time and send
KDYHVROXWLRQVWRSXSLOV
 messages to say he has picked s
total of 89, 306 pupils failed the exam. them.
problems. ,I\RXVSHQGWLPHGULQNLQJ Gonsya also
Matthew Bukenya, the UNEB secretary, \RXZLOOIDLOWRPDUNERRNV helps pupils to write to Young
Talk.
says the poor performance is due to A professional teacher JLYHKRPHZRUNVHWWHVWVDQG Well done!
teacher and pupil absenteeism, late
reporting to school and early departure.
is guided by the code of
conduct, plans lessons well,
and does not waste time
help the slow learners.
win
co of 'What's
copy
a
However, even schools in Kampala saw Teachers now upgrade
a drop in division one passes. They fell complaining. through long (not
ot) happening in
from 30% in 2007 to 13% in 2007. This distance learning. our schools'
o
suggests that pupils experienced the exam You should be :KHQGR\RXJHW
as harder across the entire country. FUHDWLYHORYH\RXU time to upgrade or Teac
achers, if you have
MREDQGPLQGHYHU\ for your family if not received your
In all, 33.4% of pupils passed in division child’s performance. you spend most of Youn
ou g Talk copies,
two, 29.9% in division three and 13.8% Assess and help each \RXUWLPHGULQNLQJ" text
xt S
Straight Talk on
in division four. Some districts had fewer child in your class. 077-5-517458.
0
than five pupils in division one; for Dr Nkaada Daniel, Write
ite to Teacher Talk,
example, Amuru had just one and Manafa Unfortunately, Commissioner, PO
O Box
B 22366, K'la
four. alcohol has made Primary anddwwin a 2009 diary.
many teachers Education
2 Teacher Talk, February 2009
Teachers are
What makes a good teacher? role models
"A professional

W hen you stand before the pupils, there

is a message you pass on to them by
the way you talk, behave and dress. Avoid
untidy or inappropriate dress-
ing that will draw their atten-
tion away from what you are
teaching. You also need to
avoid vulgar language.
Dress decently
Ladies, your dress or skirt needs
to be below the knee.
Your top or blouse needs to be:
‡1RWWUDQVSDUHQW
‡1RWVOHHYHOHVV
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that do not distract the attention
of pupils
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Gentlemen
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wear T-shirts in class (you can
wear them when not on duty).
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Come to school early
‡.HHSWLPH‡&RPHWRVFKRROHDUO\DQGEHLQFODVVDWWKH
ULJKWWLPH‡'RQRWOHDYHVFKRROLPPHGLDWHO\DIWHU\RXU
teacher respects him/
herself, is welcoming
and is ready to
OHVVRQ‡6WLFNDURXQGWRKHOSSXSLOVZLWKSUREOHPV help learners solve
their problems."
Listen to and counsel pupils AN Kamanyire,
Being professional goes beyond teach- Nabagereka PS,
Kampala
ing in class. Take time to counsel
your pupils and get to know
them. "Being a teacher means being a
role model to others in character
Do not take bribes and deeds. I use
good language
Taking money from parents
to pay attention to their and associate
with people of
children is wrong. Treat
your pupils equally. Pay good morals."
J Nabukalu,
attention to each and every
pupil in your class. Kyanja Junior
School, Kampala
Avoid all "bad touches"
The vast majority of teach-
ers would never behave in a "I do not quarrel
sexual manner with pupils. in public or go to bars. What will
people think when they see a teacher
Unfortunately, a small
minority actually do have coming from a bar or a kibanda?" F
Araat, St Peter's Nsambya PS
A professional is sex with them. This is an extraordinary crime, legally and
neat, tidy, respectable, PRUDOO\1HYHUKDYHVH[ZLWK\RXUSXSLOV,I\RXNQRZRI
ÁH[LEOHDQG any teacher sexually abusing a child, report him. "A good teacher is
‡:HDUFORVHGVKRHVQRWVDQGDOV compassionate. smart, keeps time
and is patient with
the children." E

Be leaders, Mpirirwe, Kasubi

C/U PS

advisers and "Teachers should

not be shabbily
mentors dressed. Untidy
hair, beards, untucked shirts,
slippers, open shoes, unpolished
Headteachers, if a teacher shoes, jeans and T-shirts have no
is diverting from the Teacher's Code place in the classroom. Such a
of Conduct, it is your duty to remind teacher is not ready to teach." M
him or her to be professional. Ager, Lalak PS, Kitgum

&DOODPHHWLQJZLWKDOO\RXUVWDIIWRUHYLHZWKH “Headteachers,
&RGHRI&RQGXFW interact with
‡%HJLQQLQJRIWHUPLVLGHDOIRUVXFKPHHWLQJV teachers. Be
‡,GHQWLI\DQGKLJKOLJKWFRPPRQO\YLRODWHG organized and plan
DUHDVLQWKH&RGHRI&RQGXFW for the day, term
‡3XWLQSODFH\RXURZQE\ODZVWRSURPRWH and year. That's
professionalism in your school. professionalism.”
D Kisakye,
Hang the Code of Conduct where teachers will see it
By Peter Ocaya, Rangira PS, Kitgum Nabagereka PS,
everyday.
Kampala

New
win curriculum
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 Extracts from the Teacher's

Make Teacher S tarting this term,
lower primary has a
Talk your paper.
Write to PO Box
nnew curriculum based on
themes. To de-congest
th
the curriculum, which
th
Code of Conduct
22366, K'la. All wwas too crowded, some
letters will win ssubjects have been
ppushed from P1 to P2,
A teacher shall:
2009 Teacher ssome from P2 to P3, and
Project a good image in the community.
Talk dairies. We ssome from P3 to P4.
have 1000 to TThis new curriculum Respect and implement school rules.
give away! wwill create more time for
ppupils to grasp the core ‡3UHSDUHVFKHPHVRIZRUNDQGOHVVRQQRWHV
ccompetencies of reading
aand writing. ‡1HYHUWUDQVDFWSULYDWHEXVLQHVVZKHQRQGXW\
For P4, a new curriculum
F
is being piloted based ‡2EWDLQSHUPLVVLRQWREHDEVHQWIURPWKHKHDGWHDFKHU
on subjects. Pupils will
o
do seven subjects down
d ‡1HYHUXVHDSXSLO
VODERXUIRUSULYDWHRUSHUVRQDOJDLQ
from 10. These are
fr
English, science, math,
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music, dance and drama;

m
SST, local language; and
S 
physical education.
p
 3 Teacher Talk, Feb 2009

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back to drink, which means that
&KLOGUHQDUHQHYHUSURXGRISDUHQWV
ZKRGULQNMalinga C, Akoboi PS,
it can be hard to escape from it. Katakwi
Sadly, there are teachers who
suffer from this disorder. Absenteeism
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WLUHGIURPGULQNLQJWKHQLJKWEHIRUH headteacher, Adere
PS,
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LQGLYLGXDOVEXWDOVRRIFRPPXQLWLHV Loss of income
:KHUHPHQGULQNLQJURXSVWKH\FDQ ´$FROOHDJXH
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6RPHSHRSOHEHOLHYHWKDWDOFRKRO 7KHPRQH\ZDVVWROHQµ J Odeke,
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Orungo PS, Amuria

Not funny: this is a family tragedy;
the children are frightened.
Poor hygiene
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URRPµOpolot M, Toroma Girls,
Katakwi

Alcohol abuse is not a joke: help teachers with problems
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drinking for company
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Justus Twesigye, psychiatric social
worker at Makerere
University,
says people who
struggle with alco-
hol need to avoid
friends who encour-
age them to drink.
Disciplinary action
If a headteacher is
drinking too much and
counseling has failed
to help, the School
Management Committee
and sub-county Education
Officers should report it to
the CAO, who will forward
the matter to the District
Service Commission (DSC)
for disciplinary action.
If a teacher is drinking
too much, the headteacher
will make a report to the
DEO, who will forward the
matter to the CAO before it
goes to the DSC.
Disciplinary action can be
suspension, salary cut or
demotion.

Alcohol and HIV
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 4 Teacher Talk, Feb 2009

Educators of Excellency Awards for teachers

EoE winner Semujju GW, Headteacher,
Kasubi C/U PS in Kampala says: "I
have meetings where I consult staff
on all matters."
Teachers are key to national the education office.
development. At the World ‡%HJRRGWHDPSOD\HUV
Teachers' Day celebrations on 6
Oct 2008, the Uganda Teachers Many teachers and headteachers
Union (UNATU) recognized countrywide won EoE awards,
excellent teachers with including headteachers Peter Akol,
Educators of Excellency (EoE) Kachede PS, Bukedea; Arige Cecilia
awards for the best headteachers Otianga, Toromo Girls PS, Katakwi;
and teachers. and Mariam Kaggwa, Luzira PS,
Kampala. These awards will be
Legesi Stephen, the treasurer of given every year to compliment the
UNATU, says that to win a teacher or Customised Performance Targets
headteacher must: introduced by the MOES. Watch out
‡%HJRRGPDQDJHUV and start doing what it takes to get
‡0DNHVXUHWKHLUVFKRROLV one.
represented in all events organised Letting off steam: teachers in
by the education office. Kampala dance during the
‡$OZD\VUHVSRQGWRUHTXHVWVIURP celebrations at St Jude PS, Naguru.

Local language keeps Notice board Your letters

classes lively and fun UPE compulsory Teachers, treat pupils
The thematic curriculum is
a must in P1 - P3 since 2007.
"Children understand better when
taught in local language. It builds
I n 2008, a new education act was
passed. The Education (Pre-
primary, Primary and Post-primary)
as your children
not sexual partners.
Pupils are taught using themes their confidence. I send pupils to get
and local language. In the last Act, 2008 makes primary education Defiling them leads to
banana fibre, palm leaves for making
Teacher Talk, we asked teachers compulsory for all children of school
mats over the weekend." Malemo C,
going age. Local governments have loss of jobs and HIV.
about it. Thanks for your letters. Busitema PS, Busia.
We are sending you diaries! been given the responsibility to Alukonzi D, Kololo
"Local language brings a close enforce this law. They are expected
to develop by-laws to deal with PS, Arua
"The thematic curriculum helps relationship between the teacher
pupils to master their language, both and pupils."Aliga A, Lomunga PS, parents who do not take children
spoken and written." Nabukeera J, Yumbe WRVFKRRO7KHQHZODZUHTXLUHV Through Teacher Talk,
Tuzukuke PS, Wakiso parents to feed and dress their
"We assess the children continuously. children. we have got knowledge
"The riddles, songs, drama, games We divide them up into streams then to handle adolescents in
into smaller groups which we observe
and proverbs in the local language
and talk to." Aluka
Changes in SMC primary schools living
keep the class
lively. There is
full participation
J, Ajuket PS,
Busia.
T he number of members of
the School Management
Committees (SMC) has gone up
positively with HIV.
We can help children
in all activities. from 9 to 12. SMCs were made up
I take my class of members from the foundation
affected and infected
outside to Take pupils bodies, representatives of the Chief with HIV. Headteachers
learn from the out to look for Education Officer and parents’
local learning
have learnt to deal with
environment." representatives. Now SMCs will
Sunday T, materials have parent representatives, teacher absenteeism.
Nyamasiizi PS, around the LCs, Old Boys and Girls, and Tukwasibwe T,
Kabale school representatives of the foundation
body. The aim is to improve Nyamisiizi PS,
school management. SMCs will be Kabale
PEP protects you from HIV approved by Local Governments
and not the Director of Education. Teachers, encourage
I
f some
one is
What is PEP?
PEP is a four week course of Semuto schools communities to
send girls to school.
defiled or antiretroviral tablets (ARVs) taken fight malaria
raped and to stop HIV from entering your We need a positive
exposed
to HIV-
body's cells, multiplying and "taking
root". ARVs are the medicines that
T eachers in Semuto, Nakaseke
have started sensitizing pupils,
teachers and parents on the signs
attitude towards girls’
infected people who have HIV take to control of malaria in children. They do this
education. Odongo D,
semen, the virus. through Music, Dance and Drama. Laroo Boarding PS,
there is
medicine "Seven teachers from Millenium
Gulu
When you go for PEP, the doctor will
that stops first test you for HIV. If you test HIV- PS, Crane PS, Bright
the virus from establishing itself
in the body. This treatment
is called Post Exposure
Prophylaxis (PEP).
negative, you will receive PEP. For
females can also be given emergency
family planning to stop pregnancy.
Future PS and Fort
Jesus Secondary
School started the
Project after real-
izing that many par-
Quiz
Pupils living with HIV
Often rape survivors waste time by ents and teachers increasing in sch ls. are
Dr Edith Nakku from the Mulago first going to LCs and police. Please did not know the How do you handleoo such
STD clinic says PEP is effective go first for PEP then to the police. signs of malaria," children? Share
within two days from the time of says project experiences withyouTea
r true
rape or defilement. You need to act PEP is free and anybody who is raped manager Tom Talk. Write to PO Bo cher
fast and get to the hospital within or defiled, boys included, is entitled Mugarura. K'la and win a 2009x 22366
diary.
those two days. to free PEP at any government
health unit near you that has ARVs. STRAIGHT TALK FOUNDATION
4 Acacia Avenue, Kololo, P. O. Box 22366, Tel: 03122622031 Kampala (U),
Fax: 534858, E-mail: strtalk@imul.com, strtalk@straight-talk.or ug,
Teachers, the community looks Web: www.straight-talk.or.ug Exec Director: C Watson, Director Print:T. Agutu,
up to you: Tell your pupils and communities Editorial manager: E Kimuli Editors: G Awekofua, M. Akello, D. Agaba,
about PEP. Help those who are defiled to get J. Abongowath Designer: Gb. mukasa, M.eB Kalanzi ,A D Bulamu
PEP. PEP prevents HIV infection. It does not Printer: The New Vision,
"cure" in people who already have the virus. Illustrator: S Mulyanga, Funded by UNITY