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Interview with Mrs. Guy and Mr. Lackey about their visit to our partner school in Uganda.

When did you visit Uganda?
February 12th - 21st

How long was your stay?
10 days - 2 days travelling

What made you visit Uganda?
We are part of the North-South link and felt a close bond with the pupils there. They need help and support.

What was the weather/temperature like and did it affect you?
The temperature was extremely hot - 30 C and above. At one point Mrs. Guy was going to pass out. She went bright red in the face because of the heat. Mr. Lackey thinks the afternoon is probably the hardest time to cope with; the school has a tin roof and it makes everywhere extremely hot. Mrs Guy says the weather didn’t affect her apart from when she got off the plane. She tried to cover up by wearing long sleeved tops and trousers as she didn’t want to get burnt.

Were the pupils extremely happy to see you both?
Yes, they definitely were as they were all incredibly friendly. They're lovely.

Are the same lessons taught in Uganda as are taught here at IMS?
In Uganda they learn lots about agriculture whereas here in England we don't. Also, Maths is very different as they don’t have any calculators.

What is their uniform like?
The uniforms are home-made by a lady called Jane. They are made of red and white checked material. Girls wear dresses and boys wear Tshirts and shorts.

What subjects did you teach there?
Mr. Lackey mostly taught Art and Technology and Mrs Guy mostly taught Music, however she also taught Drama and English.

What was the age range of the pupils?
Mostly 4-14, although some were older. It differed depending on test results. If they failed their end of year exams then they were kept back Uganda a year. There was a 16 year old boy in a class with mostly 12 year olds.

On average, how many pupils were in each class?
Normally there were about 40-45, however in one class there were 77.

Compared to IMS what was the school equipment like?
There was hardly any equipment in the whole school. They didn’t even have one pair of scissors, but they managed.

What similarities are there between the two schools?
The education system is similar but they tend to still do O levels. Most lessons are taught in English and they do get homework like IMS pupils do.

Is it easier and more enjoyable to teach Ugandan children?
Yes, it’s much easier; they feel privileged to go to school. They love it, whereas for some people in England going to school is a chore. It was a pleasure to teach them, but they found being creative difficult.

Are they more eager to learn compared to English children?
The pupils are very eager, possibly because the leaving age is so young but probably also because they are paying for their education.

How long was a school day?
7:30am - 5:30pm

On what days did they go to school?
Monday - Friday, and they sometimes had extra classes on a Saturday.

What sort of food do they eat?
They mostly eat fruit and vegetables, as they have a large variety of fresh food. Mostly, their favourite food is bananas. They don’t eat much meat because it is expensive.

Did they make you feel welcome and comfortable?
Yes, they certainly did! They were extremely welcoming; they were friendly and we never felt alone.

Pick 3 words to describe the pupils overall?
Mr Lackey - optimistic, energetic and respectful Mrs Guy - generous, warm and friendly

How do their lessons differ to ours?
They don’t have the same equipment as we do, and the lessons are longer. They’re longer and there’s more chalk and talk. There was no hands on work.

Are most lessons taught inside or outside?
Most lessons are taught inside; they could make more use of being outside. They are all cramped in classrooms when they could be outside in lots of space.

Are the teachers stricter or less strict for children to learn, compared to IMS?
The teachers are very strict; they still have corporal punishment that they take notice of! Mr Lackey said he didn’t agree with that at all. While he was there a pupil got something thrown at them as they weren’t looking at the teacher.

Did the pupils behave in class, and listen carefully?
Their concentration was amazing and they listened perfectly. They have a real desire to learn.

What chores did the children have to do at home?
Before school started they had to hoe their gardens. Also they had to collect and carry water from a well which was a mile away; they had a rota for that though. Cleaning, ironing, washing, and looking after siblings were also done.

What did the houses look like?
The houses were built from bricks which they had made out of clay and had tin roofs. They don't need to bake the clay; they just leave it out in the sun and the warmth.

Were the houses quite bare and basic?
The houses were extremely basic - there was no plumbing, and only a few houses had electricity. They also had no windows and a very basic kitchen. The house that we stayed in had several rooms which was quite unusual.

Did you find the whole experience hard work?
Mr Lackey - Yes. The heat was the main problem, it was unbearable! I couldn’t get to sleep. Also, the mosquitoes and lizards which were around were very worrying.
Mrs Guy - No. It was life changing and a real pleasure.

Which school would you prefer to teach at permanently, and why?
Mr Lackey - Probably in Uganda, even though I strongly disapprove of the teachers beating the pupils.
Mrs Guy - No comment because both systems have positives and negatives about them.

If you had the chance, would you go back there again?
Yes, certainly. It was a wonderful experience and as teachers, we made a difference to them.

What have you learnt from going to Uganda?
Mr Lackey - People can be poor and happy, money isn’t everything!
Mrs Guy - Simple things in life are important and are enjoyable. Friendship comes in all different guises.

Final Comments ? Mrs Guy - Waswa was a boy that I depended on greatly as he was my personal cockroach killer. He made my stay in Uganda much more pleasant!

by: Rachel Newhouse & Lucy Carr