Raising Voices Rewards Outstanding Teachers

Raising voters have rewarded teachers from 19 schools around the country. The 20 teachers were nominated by their pupils who wrote essays explaining why their teachers should be rewarded.

While recognizing the teachers at the awarding ceremony held at Metropole Hotel in Kololo this morning, Peter Bahemuka, the Communications and Advocacy Officer Raising Voices, said the competition was aimed at rewarding teachers for their outstanding performances in school.

The teachers were rewarded for adhering to the good school program which uses positive discipline instead of corporal punishment. Positive discipline focuses on the positive points of behavior, empowering the students to learn how to manage their behavior and be responsible for good behavior.  Some of the recommended means include reading, singing and writing as a punishment.

Maria Nakabuye, a primary seven pupil at Mirembe Primary school is one of those who participate in the essay competition. She nominated her teacher, Charles Onen, saying he cares about them.

//Cue in; "I wrote about…

Cue out…he teaches creatively."//

Dorothy Baluka, the Central Region Coordinator, Uganda National Teachers Union, says the competition will improve learning in schools since it will encourage other teachers to adopt good teaching methods.

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Cue out…with in the schools."//

Eva Namusoke, a teacher from St. Kizito Maluvule Primary School is one of the teachers who was rewarded. She explained that the award is testament of the good work that teachers do.

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Cue out…nga  nimusanyufu nyo."//

The teachers received branded bags and certificates from Raising Voices recognizing their good work. Angella Naddamba, Secondary Educational Officer in the Education and Sports Ministry called upon teachers to stop using violence as a means of disciplining school children.

//Cue in; "When you're violent…

Cue out…embrace positive discipline."//

Raising voices received a total of 689 essays from 19 schools from five districts in the country.  376 essays came from Kampala, 190 from Kabarole, 69 from Luweero and 51 from Lira. Jinja district submitted only 3 essays. 

Raising Voices is a non-profit organization based in Kampala, Uganda that works to prevent violence against women and children.