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Kibaale Community Schools
General Since 1993 Pacific Academy has operated the Kibaale Community Schools in the Rakai District of Uganda. The focus of the schools is to provide education and support to the neediest of the needy. The majority of the 700 students have lost at least one parent mostly to AIDS and all come from very poor circumstances. Children from nursery through four years of secondary schooling are provided with first class education by committed Ugandan Christian teachers. In addition to their schooling, they receive uniforms, a daily meal and health care. The families or guardians of those who are sponsored through the Kibaale Children's Fund (KCF) receive help to improve their living and economic conditions. Nursery/Primary In October-November each year the community workers from KCF begin to identify and select students for the next year's nursery class. Unfortunately finances and facilities limit our intake to 50 - 60 nursery students although there are hundreds who would qualify. Thanks to special donations from caring supporters we are able to provide the care necessary for those 5 - 6 year olds. The difference between their first day of school in February, when many show signs of malnutrition and disease, to three months later is amazing. Hopefully by the end of their nursery year each student will have a sponsor. If you are interested in sponsoring a student click here. Following their year at Kibaale's Bunga Raya Nursery School the children enter kindergarten in the Kibaale Community Primary School. During the eight years in primary school the students are increasingly taught in English (the official language of Uganda) and given the opportunity to find and develop their talents. At the end of grade 7 (P7) all students write a state-wide set of examinations that determines if they can go on to secondary school. Kibaale has a success rate of over 90% compared to the district average of 50%. Secondary The Ugandan secondary system is based on the British system of 'O' and 'A' levels. At the end of four years of secondary education (S4) students write examinations that, if they are successfull, gives them a school-leaving certificate or allows them to go on to two more years of secondary (S5 and 6) and A levels. Kibaale Community Secondary School only offers the four years of secondary. Successful completion will allow students access to a wide range of career options. Students who do very well on the S4 exams are often sponsored to go on to take their A levels in another school and from there move on to university. |
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Students who have graduated from Kibaale Community Secondary School have gone on to positions
in education, business, nursing, and agriculture. Vocational The Vocational program meets the need of helping students who do not have the academic skills to develop a practical skill they can immediately use to gain employment or start a business. Programs range from one to two years in length and are available in typing/clerical/ tailoring, or construction and carpentry. Special Needs At the beginning of 2003 we were able to realize a dream of helping students with special needs. Often these young people were neglected and marginalized by their families and the community, and received no education. The special needs class is the first of its type in the whole Rakai district and is a model for education authorities to see in action. At present the program focuses on deaf students who are taught sign language and communciation skills and then the same education skills as the other children. The impact of this program on other students and the community has been very noticable as people have come to see the abilities of the special needs students. Special needs classes are small because students need special attention and assistance and many of them still need sponsors (for information click here) Teacher Training We realize that one school is very limited in what can be accomplished in an area of such great need. For this reason, Kibaale Community Schools have been set up as a model that welcomes teachers from the district to take part in teacher training in-service sessions that are conducted from time to time. A teacher resource centre has also been set up on site, and materials and advice are available to teachers from surrounding schools in the district. |