NGO Seeks Shs50bn for Expansion
By Stephen Wandera Ouma
River Flow International–Science Teachers’ Initiative (RIFI-STI), promoting the use of scientific knowledge, is seeking UShs50 billion to support its services extension to cover the entire African continent.
It is a Ugandan non-government organisation operating in several schools in over twenty districts. Comprising of experienced networking science teachers, its primary objective is to improve quality education in Africa.
Also promoting innovation and research in solving socio-economic challenges, RIFI-STI has recently expanded to South Sudan and Somalia.
Recent studies have highlighted persistent failures and low uptake in science subjects. To bridge the gap, RIFI-STI has resorted to projects like promoting a practical approach to science, capacity building, literacy for lifelong learning and a teacher support center.
“Since we started, a couple of years ago, we have reached out to over 250,000 learners and teachers in Uganda alone” Mr. Mohammed Simuka Executive Director, RFI told this Magazine.
To further demonstrate the importance of science, RIFI-STI has formed a partnership with schools to set up science projects, enabling the learners to apply classroom knowledge and acquire skills that are applicable to daily life in the home and school setting, and when they leave school.
By developing practical reading, and learning materials, RIFI-STI enhances the promotion of numeracy and literacy, retools teachers in practical science teaching and increases access to inclusive quality education.
According to Shift Media, the First Lady and Minister for Education and Sports Hon. Janet Kataha Museveni launched a primary school science kits at State House Nakasero.
“This apparatus, which is aligned with the national curriculum, is intended to make the teaching of every topic of science at the primary level not only practical but also interesting to learners,” she tweeted.
The mini laboratories will complement textbooks in the teaching and learning of integrated science.
Funding
Since 2017 when it was launched by Hon. Rosemary Seninde, then the Minister of State for Primary Education has developed due to partnership with key stakeholder; the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES), the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), World Vision Uganda, Save the Children and Finn Church Aid Uganda.
“We can accomplish much with funding support for innovation from government. With the available resources, we have improved the quality of education in 20 districts in Uganda through science innovation and expanded to South Sudan, Kenya, and Somalia,” said Simuka.
Simuka noted that with full capacity mini-science laboratories production, the entire Great Lakes region and the entire continent will be supplied.
The initiative trains teachers, the hands that feed the learners, “Therefore, enriching them in the learner-centered teaching approach contributes to the education system betterment. The training is conducted through workshops, and continued in-service training, and seminars. Teachers are guided in use of available materials to engage students in the teaching and learning process, whereas learners participate, see, touch, and feel what they are learning” he added.
Teacher support
RIFI-STIA has a science teachers’ support centre where subject specialists respond to inquiries about the teaching content, delivery methodology, or testing, and evaluation. The team also evaluates the learners’ response to the new approach.
This centre can be accessed in three ways:
- Visiting the centre in person.
- Calling in toll-free and seeking for assistance.
- Online support through various platforms. Evaluation and follow-up
