UCE results for Mvara Secondary School

[Ejibua Sam]

Dear members,

Greetings to you all. This far we have not got any official communication from Mvara Secondary School about how the school performed in the just released UCE results. Information shared on social media by other sources indicates that Mvara has 14 first grades. Whereas this may be considered a good result, in our view, this is not good enough given the number of candidates that sat for O level exams in the day and boarding sections.

Randomly sampling the results on the UNEB portal shows a very disappointing trend. As stakeholders, we must rise to the occasion. There have been a number of concerns raised by teachers and some students about how Mvara is deteriorating without any practical intervention. I think this has been nursed for far too long.

I would like to appeal to our consciousness and unity to take a stand on some of the issues derailing our school. As the schools re open in the next couple of days, may I call upon you to be part of the process to restore sanity in the affairs of Mvara Secondary School. Please dont wait for me to share any information you may access to support this process.

Thanks and very kind regards,

Sam Ejibua

[Irene Dawa]

Thanks Sam for your persistence in following events in Mvara, I’m out of the country please let me know what is decided.

Peace and grace

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Irene Dawa

[Efiti Filliam]

Noted with serious concern!!! Something must be done!!

[Malunga Gabriel]

Many thanks Sam, this is well received and highly noted. willing to take full part in this.

Regards,

Gabriel

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[Christopher Yikii Ondia]

Dear Sam

Thanks a lot for sharing this information with us.

It is very disappointing especially getting only 14 first grades out of over 140 or so in an era where all facilities for excelling are there at the school and what is the missing link?

Mvara is struggling under the weight of its past glory and there is nothing absolutely impossible if positive change is our desired outcome and that change must begin in the classroom between the learner and the teachers with the support of the headteacher and the parents and thats the only way Mvara will get its academic crown.

Discipline is key for all and look at schools like Ushindi with 21 in division 1, 25 in Division 2 and 10 in division 3 and best aggregate 11 and 56 students sat?

Whats the difference? Values and team work.

Pokea seminary and Ombaci is returning slowly but surely now 37 first graders?

Lets realistically diagnose the issues of Mvara SS from the root cause and deal with it once and for all.

My suggestion is to have a committee instituted with clear terms of reference composed of members with different expertise and skills and constituted with the approval of the school management and board and foundation body with the view of reviewing these issues and charting a way forward to provide answers.

This is my take as an OB and a concerned stakeholder.

Christopher Yikii

[gloria amaniyo]

Dear Sam,

Thank you very much for this information. My humble opinion is that the discipline levels of the students has dropped too low and that is where all stakeholders need to start from. When you go to the other schools that Yiki C has mentioned, you see the discipline right from the gate and that is how they are excelling. 

As Old students, we need to come up with practical and doable resolutions to help the school.

Thank you,

Gloria

[Steven Florence]

Thank you Sam for the information.

We had tried to address that when we took to ourselves to visit the school as Ob's and Og's but while the students where positive I think the administration might not have been on our side and that is why we have not gone back since then.

They impressed on me that your docket was more formally recognized than ours which was more Christian based.

Let us continue dialoging.

Thanks.

[Yahoo!!!]

Thanks Sam for this piece of information. Let's go ahead and constitute the committee to look into how to handle this unfortunate incidence. 

[Queenie Annette Nyati]

Dear Sam and members,

Happy New year,

Thanks you Sam for the mail. Indeed it's disappointing to note the declining trend. I agree we need with suggestions some members have already mentioned. 

One key thing i know is to influence and contribute to the current mindset and culture it might require a lot and we may not do a quick fix expecting results too soon. I believe we all identify with some sort of small group that can play a key role in changing culture for instance while i was there we had strong SU, YWCA, dramma group, media team (Our famous weekly excavator), UNSA leaders, prefects etc. Those on ground could help us identify these groups and i believe each one of us can associate with at least one group or more. The OB's identifying with different groups can then lay strategies to influence there smaller groups. Once we the OGs and OBs actively engage in the smaller groups, i believe small group transformation has power to influence others and if different lights are lite then a big fire will be seen. 

Intentional strategy to conquer smaller groups in my view could be explored. If this makes sense a team can work on this. I will be willing to participate in such a team. 

Kind regards

Queenie Annette OB

On Fri, Feb 1, 2019 at 12:17 AM Ejibua Sam <eji...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[christine munduru]

Thanks Sam for sharing, I agree with the others. Discipline is very key. I tell my children always to sing that without discipline their future is gone. Last time when Ejiku shared his report I was disappointed to hear that a student who was got drunk was still to wait for a board decision. In  Protestant founded school? That should have been automatic dismissal. Involvement of parent is very key in education but that is seriously lacking. We need a strategy to change attitude of all stakeholders. For me that should a priority. If there is negative attitude even if all other things fine we shall never go far.

Christine


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[Efiti Filliam]

I really appreciate the concern of MOSA members. Good performance requires a number of things.

I am aware of the importance of discipline as one of the key factors to academic excellence. However, considering the current trend of Uganda's education system, UPE and others, are some creeping factors which seem to be taken for granted but very much affect academic performance as follows: English Language proficiency, self-regulatory learning strategies and extrinsic goal orientation. These Factors need the commitment of the teachers and school administration, at school and more serious parental mentorship. 

I think metacognitive and cognitive learning strategies, resource management and administrative proficiency could play a greater role besides instilling discipline in students in strengthening academic performance in Mvara.

Let's hope for a change.

GBU

Filliam

[Christopher Yikii Ondia]

Filliam

Thanks for your input and the issues of Mvara seem to affect the entire region of West Nile.

Having 9 first graders in Zombo as a district sets even a more worrying trend.

So the West Nile region is at stake in terms of education and we have begun a serious discussion at a more strategic level on how to deal with the educational challenges in West Nile in the Short term, Medium term and long term.

The plan so far is to engage all key stakeholders and the diaspora community from West Nile for a 2 day engagement tentatively November this year as the members would agree.

The target is to bring together 400-500 stakeholders for an engagement to find solutions to the worrying trends.

For those interested in furthering the discussions and wanting to be involved send your contact details to me on mail and you can be included in the Whatsup discussion forum WESTNILE EDUCATION.

There is hope for westnile but we need to all be involved and my Prayer and dream is for West Nile to become the "BEST NILE" and this is possible. Lets go for it.

Christopher Yikii

" Time and Talent can often compensate for lack of money, but money cant ever compensate for lack of the right people". Jim Collins.

[christine munduru]

Dear all, I agree that the issues affecting West Nile are multiple but I also want to say that they dont need rocket science to solve them. Sam I am worried of those big engagements that normally die before they bare fruits. let us look at a rural school like Katrini SS that has mostly untrained teachers but always getting good results, at one time had a student getting 12 in 8 when being taught by S6 leavers and no equipments and the rest in the school. If percentage is to be considered Katrini would be one of the top schools in the recent S4 results in West Nile or Arua, let us ask ourselves, if such a school without equipment and untrained teachers can perform, what about schools like Mvara that have had records before. Ediofe also had first and second grades, only I think two in third grade in the recent S4 results. I would like us to start with basic things other than thinking the problem of West Nile need big solutions. We shall be like doctors who have ignored basic tests of malaria and have gone for big tests and have left the patient to die of malaria.

If attitudes in West Nile towards education dont change by students, parents, teachers and administration, I assure you, we are going nowhere.

Just my humble opinion

Christine

[MOSA]

Dear Members,

Thanks for these feedback and concerns expressed from across different sections. Following our consultative engagements in Arua, these were some of the issues we discussed and shared on the MOSA whats up group for your information.

Yesterday we had a consultative engagement with a few people. We noted and appreciated the following facts:

1. We as old students have been our own undoing on many fronts. Given the fact the the foundation board, the BOG, the school administration, teachers and non teaching staff are largely made up of old students of Mvara S.S, we have not effectively utilised our positions and placements in these structures to make Mvara S.S better.
2. There are concerns raised by different stakeholders including some teachers and non teaching staff related to unfair dismissal, transfers from Mvara S.S (despite being old students of Mvara). This has worked against our unity and focus.
3. The current executive has overstayed their term and most members are clearly overwealmed by other engagements. This has affected effective coordination and engagement of the school and members.
4. The commitment of MOSA members to the issues raised over time has not been as positive as expected. Most members are only active on the social media platform and are never engaged in meetings when called. This has partly affected our ability to effectively mobilise for elections of new members.
5. With the current mobilisation challenges, the executive should focus on mobilising members through the smaller groups of old students (dormitory based attachements, religious groups, clubs and associations etc) and the willing ones on the different social media platform.
6. Out of the concerns raised above, the Excom should plan and organise meetings in Arua and Kampala to agree on a road map for elections and other activities related to the occurrences in Mvara S,S.
7. The Excom and willing members should have more regular engagements with the Foundation Board, the BoG, HT and teachers of Mvara SS to discuss the concerns raised, seek clarifications and propose concrete actions to take.

Your input into some of these is most welcome. Thanks and very kind regards,

A blessed week..

Sam

[Irene Dawa]

Dears,

One question to ask is why our parents are taking their children to schools in Kampala? in our time, all roads led t West Nile for the best schools. could it be that parents who could influence policy and other child development issues no longer care about what happens in West Nile because their children are in better schools in Kampala?

I am just thinking loud and seeing outside the box.

My best,

Irene 

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[christine munduru]

Point no. 1 is interesting but not surprising . I notice that all those working in their own districts do not have their own place at heart and this cuts across all departments and it is one of the things killing West Nile and we from outside cannot do much in this case because they have the positions of authority to practically change things, for us we can only talk. So unless these guys change those negative attitudes I insist, we shall not cause any change.

Christine

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[Christopher Yikii Ondia]

Sam

I agree and people will always get busy and that trend is going up by the day and we need to use various options for mobilization to achieve our objectives.

Point 5 would be a great way to pick up from and we almost have our Mvara Class of 92 complete( Team 92) and these members are aware of the challenges of our old school and are willing to be involved under the MOSA structure and lets not give up, all hope isn't lost and old students associations gather around a common cause and this is a good place to start.

Kind regards.

Christopher Yikii

" Time and Talent can often compensate for lack of money, but money cant ever compensate for lack of the right people". Jim Collins.

[asali joseph]

Dear Members,

I have a view that it is time to assemble a new team of teachers in that school. Mvara has teachers who have been in that school since our time 2000-2002 my year of study and even much earlier. Practically after every three years you like it or not you cease to be relevant.

This does not require justification we have all attested to it in our own professional journey. People draw strength from new challenges and new environments much as the roles and responsibilities may remain.

So if the efforts to improve results does not involve replacing the teachers who have overstayed in that school let alone the head teacher, I want to be a pessimist and say we are wasting valuable time.

Thank you.

Regards.

Asali Joseph

Tel: +256782980032 +256758980032

On Fri, Feb 1, 2019 at 12:17 AM Ejibua Sam <eji...@gmail.com> wrote:

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[Bahemuka John Toa]

Asali, I associate with your submission. Thank you.

Regards,

Bahemuka John Toa

Advocate

+256772008450/+256752489228

"Look for 3 things in a person- intelligence, energy, & integrity. If they don't have the last one, don't even bother with the first two." W. Buffet

[christine munduru]

Dear members, I agree that there is need for change of teachers but being very practical, who has that powers to change the teachers? Does Mosa has the powers? I know that ministry of education has a policy that a teacher should stay in a school max 10 years and as a result recently teachers were transferred, did those in Mvara qualify? As a matter of fact others qualified so what happened?
My thinking is we should deal with things within our reach and for others we can only make recommendations and cause admin to understand the importance. If we focus more on things we cannot change then we shall just remain noise makers

Christine
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[Steven Florence]

Thank you friends of Mvara for your divisions of Mvara performance. There are many factors affecting and issues of teachers could be one, students themselves, environment for the learners and teachers, administration, resources even spiritual, the parents/guardians, examination markers etc.These play a pivoted role in our educational outcome be it result or otherwise.

I think the overall point is where can we begin?

I would encourage people to respond and their responses be graded and the findings should help us where to start from.

Thank you members this is very health and a welcome idea to say , how can Mvara come back to the surface and begin to produce good results.

Stephen Gelenga

[Andama Felix A'diburu]

Dear Members,

I am happy with the various responses concerning the level of academic performance in Mvara Secondary School over time. What culminates into grades is a combination of factors, some within our control as an Association, others within the control of the school administration, others in the control of the Board/ PTA and the government at different levels.

My take on this is that let us have an honest discussion (without looking for whom to blame) of the issues affecting the academic and other types of performance in the school. There are things that we can do as an Association, there are things that the school administration can do, there are things that the students need to do, there are things the Board can do and things the Ministry of Education and Sports can do together with our Local governments.

We have all recognized the problem, and expressed need for positive action. Let it not just remain on this forum like the rat, cat and bell story. Together we can make it. It wont take everyone to start the move, a few can start and the result as time and resources allow, will fall in. Let just get the ball rolling.

Blessing,

Felix

[christine munduru]

Felix you are right, we need to know what things are within the mandate of mosa and catégorise them as immediate, mid term and long term and focus on them other than thinking mvara's problems can all be solved by mosa, or venturing into other people's mandate and coming out with nothing. All the time it is such occurances that wake us up, we should not be fire fighting all the time and heaping blames. We need a focused plan that is deliberate and systematic 

Christine


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[Bahemuka John Toa]

Before we even begin thinking about how to help the school, information is circulating that part of State House Dormitory was set ablaze by students last night. MOSA, let's do something asap!

Regards,

Bahemuka John Toa

Advocate

+256772008450/+256752489228

"Look for 3 things in a person- intelligence, energy, & integrity. If they don't have the last one, don't even bother with the first two." W. Buffet

[Christopher Yikii Ondia]

Felix and team members,

I do agree that we need an honest search to face the brutal facts around the issues in Mvara both in the short term and long term to make the solutions sustainable and i believe that is what the leaders at the various levels are doing.

Everyone is concerned and i am sure practical steps are being taken and reviews in the past have been done etc.

I am optimistic the school can still be turned around if everyone plays their significant role.

Lets be encouraged and work towards a common goal of restoring Mvara and indeed the rest of WestNile to their former Glory, challenges notwithstanding.

Christopher Yikii

" Time and Talent can often compensate for lack of money, but money cant ever compensate for lack of the right people". Jim Collins.

[Christopher Yikii Ondia]

What?

I heard students were striking over failure to be allowed to watch MANU match yesterday and it looked like a joke- at least for a serious student.

Now setting part of statehouse ablaze is something and let me call Mvara and get the latest and action taken.

Thanks Counsel Toa for the information.

Christopher Yikii

" Time and Talent can often compensate for lack of money, but money cant ever compensate for lack of the right people". Jim Collins.

[Ongua Fanuel]

Good evening MOSA family and MOSA network,

Can our leadership organize a MOSA meeting so that we can talk in length and address the issues spot on.

We need to meet the following

1. The students

2. The teachers

3. Administration 

Ongua Fanuel

[Malunga Gabriel]

Great suggestion Mr. Fanuel,

This has been mingling in my mind all along. It doesnt help contributing here in this platform. Better to understand the key stakeholders first then working out feasible solutions to this cause.

[Patrick Asiku Abura]

It's five years at a station . The entire staff is almost eligible. This must be done carefully it has its negative impact.