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David Adonga has been coordinating the Newspapers in Education (NIE) programme in Omoro district for seven years. He delivers newspapers to 15 primary schools every week and says parents, teachers and students benefit from these materials.
“When I’m late delivering the newspapers, I get a constant stream of calls from schools and parents complaining that they’re missing something,” he says.
Teachers also report that classes are no longer as stressful as children are interested in learning. Whenever they see a teacher with newspapers in their hands, they run to class full of anticipation to learn.
Adonga adds that some children take the newspapers home and read them to their parents. Many look forward to such moments every week. Others practice reading and writing. They also pin some articles at home.
“Some parents are happy to know what is happening in the country and elsewhere. Their children read and interpret newspaper articles for them,” he says.
There was also a time when Adonga did not receive newspapers from Kampala for months, which angered teachers and parents. Teachers and parents from four schools organised a meeting and summoned Adonga to explain the delay. They were Odek, Jingkomi, Acet and Agweno primary schools.
Good thing, because around this time New Vision and Save the Children renewed the NIE partnership and newspaper delivery resumed.
District official praises New Vision and Save the Children
Newspapers have a positive influence on teachers and students, says Charles Ocira Katwelle, senior deputy secretary in Odek Sub County, Omoro District.
Charles Ocira says newspapers have a positive influence on teachers and students. (Photo by Ritah Mukasa)
While attending a training on Newspapers in the Classroom (NIE) for over 40 primary school teachers at Odek Health Center 111 on Monday, August 26, Ocira said that with newspapers, teachers impart knowledge effortlessly and students enjoy the entire learning process. He urged teachers to use the free newspapers they receive every week to improve the performance of their schools.
“Development partners always come up with innovations that help our district perform better. They invest a lot in us, but once the project ends, we don’t care about it anymore,” he said, adding: “Let us make good use of the newspapers this time. I commend New Vision and Save the Children for their generosity towards our district.”
Ocira reminded the teachers that the children of Omoro do not belong to the development partners but are the responsibility of the people of Omoro District including the teachers and should therefore strive to nurture them and bring out the best in them to give them a better future.
The NIE programme is now funded by the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) through Save the Children. NORAD is implementing a five-year programme in the Acholi and Karamoja regions entitled “Changing the Future – For and With Children” from 2024 to 2028. The programme aims to ensure that all children enjoy their right to survive, protect, develop and participate in a safe, inclusive, responsible and resilient environment.
