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By Our Reporter
KAMPALA, Uganda [ ] First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni has hailed the initiative by River Flow International Science Teachers Initiative in manufacturing of the mini- laboratories.
Janet Museveni who launched the new primary school science kits at State House Nakasero said the mini laboratories will complement the textbooks in the teaching and learning of integrated science.
“This apparatus, which is aligned with the national curriculum, is intended to make the teaching of every topic of science at the primary level not only practical but also interesting to learners,” she tweeted.
River Flow International–Science Teachers’ Initiative (RIFI-STI) is a registered Non-Government Organisation (NGO) made up of experienced science teachers working together to improve the quality of education in Africa and promote the use of scientific knowledge, innovation, and research in solving socio-economic challenges.
The RFI Executive Director Mohammed Simuka said by developing practical reading, and learning materials, it enhances the promotion of numeracy and literacy, retooling teachers in practical science teaching and increasing access to inclusive quality education.
Grappling with funding
Since 2017 when it was launched by Hon. Rosemary Seninde, then the Minister of State for Primary Education has managed to reach where it is today due to partnership with key stakeholder such as the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), World Vision Uganda, Save the Children and Finn Church Aid Uganda.
“We can do much if we get support in terms of funding from government for innovation.
With the meagre resources we have tried to improve the quality of education in 20 districts in Uganda through science innovation and also expanded to South Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia,” said Simuka.
He said they need at least UGX50 billion to operated full capacity. “Currently where we are operating from is small, we need to acquire a more spacious premise where can have training centers for teachers as well as skilling and innovation centers for pupils. With UGX50b we can operate the entire Africa,” he said at their Ntinda based offices.
Simuka noted that once the start full capacity production of the mini-science laboratories, they will supply the entire Great Lakes region and the entire continent.
Studies have highlighted persistence failures and low uptake in science subjects. To bridge this gap, RIFI-STI has resorted to projects like Promoting a Practical Approach to Science (PPAS), Capacity Building (CB), Literacy for Lifelong Learning (3Ls) and a Teacher Support Center (TSC)
To further demonstrated the importance of science, RIFI-STI has formed a partnership with schools to set up science projects. According Simuka these projects enable learners to apply classroom knowledge and acquire skills that will help them in their daily lives at home, school, and when they leave school.