In Kibaale district Uganda, Buyanja Secondary School had long struggled with issues of safety and outdated infrastructure. For years, students attended classes in a condemned block, a structure that fell far short of national standards. But when the Teacher Changemaker Development Programme, led by STiR Education came to Buyanja, it sparked real transformation.
Deputy Headteacher Matthew, reflects on the journey, saying, “The theme was so relevant to my school. We had a condemned classroom block for four years and continued to use it because we had no alternative. Parents had started a project for a new four-classroom block, but it was never finished. Hosting the district training of school leaders was a stroke of luck because, during the practice of safety walks and safety mapping, school leaders saw first-hand the risks our students faced daily in that dilapidated classroom block.”
The programme directly led district leaders to prioritise completing the four classroom block, which had been delayed for years. The new structure was commissioned, and the unsafe block was promptly demolished. Matthew notes, “Students’ lives are no longer at risk, and with the new block, our school enrolment has significantly increased.”
The positive change in Buyanja didn’t stop with improved facilities. Students too were empowered to have a voice in the process. Students participated in the safety walks and mapping activities. “Participating in mapping safety concerns gave us the power to talk about the different spots of concern in my school,” Christine (Y2) shared. “The compound was full of stones, potholes, and anthills that used to knock us down and prevent us from playing. The old classroom block created so much dust, we were dirty all the time. Students from other schools would make fun of us, which caused many students to leave. But we thank STiR Education for creating opportunities for our voices to be heard.”
Today, Buyanja stands as a testament to the power of collaborative effort and the incredible impact of creating a platform where both students and teachers can be heard.
