A growing secondary school uplifts the entire community
Bukere Secondary School grew from 639 students to over 2000 students in only two years. Thanks to the EU-funded project that aims to overcome challenges to education for refugees and host communities.
“MANY STUDENTS who had missed out on school now have a second chance to learn and build a brighter future,” says Mary Nyiramugisha, Deputy Head Teacher of Bukere Secondary School in Uganda’s Kyaka II refugee settlement
Ms Nyiramugisha went on to tell how FCA’s EU-funded INCLUDE programme has helped out-of-school and over-aged learners return to education, who face a variety of challenges to attending school. These can range from financial problems to motivational hurdles, like gaps in children’s education or feelings of confusion about their futures.
INCLUDE aims to be adaptive to the needs of the family in order to support the child’s return to and remaining in school. That’s why it covers diverse interventions, ranging from cash for education to ensuring access to nutritious meals through a school meals programme. It also promotes menstrual hygiene management and reproductive health awareness for both sexes to help children support each other to stay in school.
Ms. Nyiramugisha particularly highlighted the success of FCA’s Accelerated Education Programme (AEP), which provides specialized classes for students who have missed out on years of school to quickly catch up and rejoin mainstream education with specialized support
“This initiative has not only helped these students catch up academically but has also instilled hope and renewed ambition for their futures,” she adds.
Giving Students a Second Chance
Bukere Secondary School started with only three grades of the full six of the Ugandan secondary school system. Now it boasts a full six, up to and including upper secondary. Its success at attracting and maintaining students comes down to a full range of support.
Yanda Mugisha Elisah a refugee student from the Democratic Republic of Congo, narrates “Before joining Bukere SS, I had lost hope of continuing my education. The AEP programme gave me a second chance, offering me the opportunity to not only continue my studies but to thrive. I am determined to pursue a career in engineering and am excited about the possibility of making a positive impact in the field.”
Amutuhire Mackline, who is from Uganda and attends Bukere SS, credits learning materials and career guidance with helping her succeed in school: “The career guidance sessions were very helpful in simplifying the pathways within the medical field, which has given me the confidence to focus on my goals for the future.”
Career guidance sessions have been boosted by career days and educational trips, helping learners explore different career options. Moreover, the collaboration between families and teachers has helped create a more supportive, cohesive learning environment, empowering students to thrive academically and personally
Enhancing learning with quality resources
Teachers are key to student success, and they were also supported by the project. Staff received training in career guidance, leadership, inclusive education, life skills, child protection, and the new secondary curriculum. The sessions highly improved teaching quality, ensuring that educators are better prepared to meet the diverse needs of their students in a supportive, inclusive, and forward-thinking learning environment.
Moreover, received vital learning materials, including textbooks aligned with the latest national curriculum and project-based learning resources. In turn these helped teachers and students engage in research-based learning, leading to deeper subject understanding and improved critical thinking skills as well as better academic performance.
The expansion of the school itself was enabled through funding from FCA, supported by the Bureau for Population Refugees and Migration (BPRM) and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), as well as through the EU-funded INCLUDE project.
Sustainable impact
Although the project has now ended, its impact will continue. Thanks to a comprehensive sustainability plan developed by the school and FCA’s project team. This ensures that learners in the accelerated programme received thorough assesmsnets, counselling and guidance to support their smooth transition into higher grades.
The results speak for themselves. In 2024, many of the programme participants advanced up a grade. Of the 38 AEP students who took the final examination of lower secondary, known as the Uganda Certifiate of Education (UCE), every one passed with outstanding results.
Since 2023, Bukere SS has consistently ranked among the top five secondary schools in Kyegegwa District for UCE performance, further demonstrating the long-term positive impact of the AEP program.
Sandrine Sirawuka, Refugee Welfare Council III Vice Chairperson and Secretary for Education: “The improvements at Bukere SS have brought about a profound transformation in our community. More children are now attending school, and parents have become more actively involved in their children’s education. The project has not only enhanced the quality of education but has also fostered a greater sense of community engagement and empowerment. This initiative has truly changed lives.”
The commitment to sustainability extends to the teaching staff. The 10 AEP teachers supported by the INCLUDE project will continue teaching at Bukere SS even after the project ends. The Board of Governors has retained them, and their salaries will now be funded through the Parent Teacher’s Association grant under a new sustainable budget model, ensuring fair compensation and job stability.
Expanding for a brighter future
Bukere Secondary School has great plans for the future. The Board of Governors have approved the transition from a day school to a boarding institution, allowing the school to accommodate even more students. In addition, the school plans to upgrade from an Ordinary-level institution to one offering Advanced-level courses, thereby expanding educational opportunities for students.
To meet the increasing demand for secondary education, the school also plans to increase its seating capacity from 250 to 450 candidates for the UCE exams. Moreover, the school aims to allow students to sit the further exams taken in Uganda at the end of upper secondary education, known as the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).
Mr. Sande Erick-Jack, Parent: “Seeing my three daughters thrive at Bukere SS has been a true blessing. They have become more confident, actively engaged in their studies, and now have a clear vision for their future. I am deeply grateful for the support the school has received, as it has played a key role in their transformation. This opportunity has not only changed their lives but has also brought hope to our entire family.”
FCA Uganda is now working to continue supporting Bukere Secondary School, its students, teachers and the community at large.
“Even though the third phase of this project has come to an end, the ECHO INCLUDE project has made a huge difference in the lives of the students and the community at large.
We are working closely with partners, local leaders, and the community to make sure students continue to get the quality education they deserve. This is not the end—together, we will find solutions to keep these opportunities alive.” – Wycliffe Nsheka, Country Director, Finn Church Aid.
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Funded by the European Union Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), the INnovative and inCLUsive accelerated eDucation programmE for refugee and host community children (INCLUDE) project is implemented by Finn Church Aid (FCA) in collaboration with Save the Children, Norwegian Refugee Council, Humanity and Inclusion, and War Child Holland.
It is designed to address challenges to education for refugees and host communities, including newly arrived and out of school children in primary and secondary schools in Kyangwali, Kyaka, Nakivale and Rwamwanja Refugee Settlements.
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Text: Kadlah Nabakembo
Pictures: FCA