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Sheikh Juma Bakhit Cucu, the head of the UMSC Education Department, led a team that included Haj Muhammad Kateregga Namuguzi Sebuganda, Chairperson of the National Education Committee, and Mr. Ashiraf Twalib Kuba, the Administrative Secretary, for a four-day inspection of selected Muslim-founded schools in the Ankole-Kigezi Muslim Region, starting on Sunday, July 21, 2024. The team arrived midmorning on Sunday in Mbarara City and commenced its fieldwork at Emirates Nursery & Primary School, in Lugazi Cell division, where they were warmly received by Madam Zainabu Kyobutungi Sulait and other staff members. The team toured the school’s conducive learning environment, including a storied classroom block equipped with quality learning materials such as textbooks, pupils’ personal writing booklets, and specially designed seats for different age groups. They also interacted with the teachers.
In her welcoming remarks, Ms. Kyobutungi disclosed that the school’s pupil population has increased to 500, despite the school starting as a nursery twelve years ago, with the upper primary section being only three years old. She added that the school has recently been ranked as the best performing Muslim-based learning center in Mbarara, offering both secular and Islamic studies.
Haj Kateregga, in his brief remarks, urged teachers to be friendly to the pupils to quicken the learning process and asked the administration to provide ample playtime for the children to support brain growth.
Sheikh Cucu conducted a brief refresher session for the teachers, sharing various teaching approaches, including illustrations, explanations, discussions, guided discovery, free discovery, demonstrations, and collaboration. He emphasized the importance of continuous learning for teachers, stating, “Real teachers know nothing, which means they keep searching for more knowledge, while cheaters pretend to know everything. Help the learners to develop hard thinking instead of just hard working.”
The team later visited both Kabwohe Secondary and Primary Schools in Kigimbi Cell, Sheema Central Division, Sheema Municipality, Sheema District. They were received by Sheikh Sulaiman Kafeero, the Kadhi of Sheema Muslim District, Madam Ann Mbabazi, the Deputy Headteacher, Mr. Abdu-Rashid Sserinya, the Director of Studies, and Mr. Ivan Nyanzi, the Deputy Headteacher for the primary section. Both sides shared ideas aimed at promoting quality learning in schools.
Lastly, the team visited the ongoing reconstruction of the 2.5 billion UGX Kanyamurera Seed Secondary School, funded by the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports under the UGFIT program. The school is being constructed on 5 acres of land belonging to UMSC Kanyamurera Mosque, along the Ishaka-Kasese Highway in Kanyambare Village, Nshumi Parish, Kyamuhunga, Bushenyi District. They were received by Mr. Muhammad Kateregga, the Headteacher, and other staff members.
In his welcoming remarks, Mr. Kateregga thanked the UMSC Education Department under Sheikh Cucu for lobbying the project and for their unwavering support, which enabled the school to acquire official registration from the Ministry of Education and Sports. Sheikh Cucu pledged to provide all necessary support for the school. The team is set to inspect more schools in Ntugamu and Kabale Muslim Districts.
Zziwa Ashiraf
UMSC Spokesperson.