Study on Criteria for Pupil’s Selection & Special Curriculum Development – Laroo Boarding Primary School, Gulu Municipality

Detailed description of project Back

The introduction of Universal Primary Education in Uganda coincided with the intensification of the security crisis in the North. The potential gains from UPE were shattered by the destruction of building and instructional materials, displacement of pupils and teachers as well as the trauma of children knowing that they were the special target of the LRA. A Specific Agreement between the Kingdom of Belgium and the Government of Uganda was to finance the construction of a fully-fledged boarding primary school for 700 war-affected children in the northern district of Gulu.

The main objective of this study is to guarantee the enrolment of pupils that are the intended beneficiaries of the project and to deliver high quality education adapted to the specific needs of these children.

More specifically the study will:

• Develop and define the criteria (enrolment criteria) for the selection of the children to be admitted in the school;
• Define the special needs of the target group and develop/ or adapt the current curriculum to meet the needs of the target group;
• Examine the special needs of the target group and develop criteria for the selection of teachers and specific training needs of these teachers;
• Examine and adapt the monitoring tool existing within the MoE to measure the educational standards achieved in the school on a yearly basis;
• Define the operational means (staff, physical inputs, finances, organizational structure, etc.) of the school for the first academic year;
• Define roles of various partners/stakeholders in the management of the school. The overall objective is to ensure that SOWAC enrolls the intended Beneficiaries (war affected children) and delivers high quality education adapted to the specific needs of those children.

Type of services provided

PROMAN is providing a Team of an International Team Leader and a team of 3 local experts consisting of Curriculum Development Expert, an Expert in War Affected Children and an Expert in Special Needs Education.

In the first stage a situational analysis is prepared based on a desk study and field work with opinion leaders, educator, other care-givers, NGOs, CBOs, community members and war affected children from the five districts of Gulu, Katakwi, Kitgum, Lira and Pader. Recommendations on the broad lines on which SOWAC is developed are presented.

The second stage encompasses:

• Development and testing of a selection instrument and system for identifying children to benefit from SOWAC’s services;
• Curriculum design including a student progress assessment system;
• Agreement on the staffing plan, recruitment process and staff training needs;
• Development ofthe operational plan and budget;
• Recommendations for governance of SOWAC.