Kibuku educators turn to school debates to boost English comprehension in learners

Kibuku, (UG):- In response to declining academic performance in recent years, the Education Department in Kibuku District, eastern Uganda, has announced a new initiative aimed at revitalizing debate activities in schools.

The program, which encourages schools to participate in structured debates, was born out of a departmental meeting where officials recognized the need for innovative strategies to enhance learners’ comprehension skills, particularly in English.

According to the District Inspector of Schools, Nabirye Leticia, “Debating used to be allocated time on the timetable during our formative years, but it has since been neglected.”

To address this gap, school head teachers were summoned and informed that participation in debates would become mandatory for all 51 government-aided primary schools.

The initiative kicks off today, Friday, 14th February 2025, with zonal competitions where primary schools will compete with the top two schools from each zone, advancing to the county-level competition on Friday, 28th February 2025.

The grand finale will take place at Kibuku Primary School on Friday, 4th April 2025, where the best two schools from each county, Kabweri and Kibuku, will vie for the district title.

As an exciting incentive, the winning school in each county will receive a bull, while the best private school will also be awarded a bull. The day will feature a variety of activities, including friendly football and netball matches between local government staff and teachers, as well as traditional games like rope pulling and dodgeball.

The prizes for the competition were generously provided by the District Chairperson, Hon. Hajji Muhammad Nakeba, who emphasized the importance of the initiative in improving English comprehension among learners. “Examinations are set in English, yet many children resort to using their local languages, which adversely affects their performance,” he stated. The chairperson called for teachers to limit the use of local languages in the classroom, encouraging them to promote spoken English to help learners better understand instructional material.

Kibuku Deputy Resident District Commissioner Matiya Mulindwa Kagugube echoed these sentiments, highlighting that many children struggle to interpret questions posed in English due to their limited proficiency.

Kagugube proposed a creative solution: to introduce distinct aprons for learners who primarily use local languages at school. “These aprons, labeled “Vernacular Speaker,” would serve as a reminder to learners about the importance of speaking English. Additionally, those wearing the aprons would face light penalties as recommended by the Ministry of Education,” he said.

Kyaide Samuel, the chairperson of the Uganda National Teachers Union in Kibuku, praised the initiative and urged teachers to train learners effectively, ensuring their participation in the final competition. “This effort will contribute significantly to the overall improvement of our district’s educational outcomes,” he affirmed.