Poyem Primary School transformed for better grades

Poyem Primary school (P/S) is located in Auyo ‘B’ village, about 270 Kilometers from Kampala in Poyem Parish, Iyolwa Sub county, Tororo District. The school enrolled 1501 pupils in 2014.

According to Mr. Ochieng Moses, the Chairperson of the Parents Teachers Association by 2009, the school was in a total mess. Moses further reports that teachers’ commitment at the school was low because they had over stayed and their relationship with parents was not good. Parents were not contributing to pupils’ scholastic materials and feeding. Pupils used to doze during class hours because of hunger, child abuse was rampant and school dropout was on rise.

It was also reported that pupils in Poyem Primary School could hardly read and write proper English and many of the girls dropped out of school fearing to be abused.

With the intervention of World Vision through Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) approach in 2009, stake holders were sensitized on the importance of improved service delivery during community gathering meetings at both the school, Sub County and District levels and dialogues were made to redeem the situation.

“As a result of Citizen Voice and Action (CVA) community gathering, girls were able to report such abuse and police commenced investigations on the matter. Unfortunately, the reported teacher took off before he was arrested,” Said David Mukudu, Deputy Head teacher at the school.

Erieza Ofwono 13, a primary seven pupil at the school reported that after Citizen Voice and Action (CVA), Community members passed By-laws requiring parents to contribute for lunch at school. The contributions are in form of six kilograms of maize, three kilograms of beans plus an additional Shs1, 500 for each pupil to cater for maize milling and the cook’s wage.  

Besides, the community was empowered to lobby support from World Vision for provision of desks, construction of pit latrines, staff quarters, class rooms and an administration block which was eventually given.

“We enjoy afternoon lessons because we no longer doze in class due to hunger…,” says Norah Anyango 13, a Primary seven pupil at the school.

 “I had never taken lunch ever since I joined this school but reconciling parents with teachers has enabled us to get lunch,” Evelyn Apio 14, a primary seven pupil added.

Children’s reading culture has now improved because of reading newspapers provided by World Vision.

“Spoken English has also improved because of debates every Friday. We also do tests twice a month given to us by World Vision which enables us to check and improve our academic standards,” says teacher Owori Gideon, Deputy head teacher II.