UMECS Wins Grant to Pilot Peace Education, Guidance and  Counseling in Secondary Schools in Northern Uganda

A "First Ever" in sub-Saharan Africa

In a highly competitive process, SPRING/USAID in Uganda selected and awarded United Movement to End Child Soldiering (UMECS) with a grant to pilot school-based peace education and school-based guidance and counseling in secondary schools in Northern Uganda. UMECS chief partner is the Ministry of Education. Seven secondary schools in the four districts of Northern Uganda - Amuru, Gulu, Kitgum and Pader - and Unyama-National Teachers College are serving as the pilot institutions.

UMECS Education Field Coordinator Anthony Ojok, upper left, records the responses as Charles Onencan, UMECS Country Director fields Gulu College student priorities for school-based peace education, guidance and counseling. Gulu College is one of the seven secondary schools piloting the project in Northern Uganda.

"This is a major stepping stone to build a culture of peace and healing to prevent new wars." said UMECS Country Director Charles Onencan on September 8, 2009 in Gulu when the grant was signed. "At the same time, we are addressing the guidance and counseling needs of children on a systemic basis. It is a pleasure working with the visionary and hard working officials at the Ministry of Education, such as Commissioner Opiro and Deputy Commissioner Web and other ministry officials. We are also grateful to SPRING-Uganda for supporting this program which, starting in Northern Uganda, will ultimately benefit all of Uganda as a society.

Ministry of Education and Sports Commissioner of Guidance and Counseling Wirefred George Opiro noted this program has long been a ministry vision, adding his enthusiasm that the program is moving forward in partnership with UMECS.

Beatrice Amiri, Deputy Head Teacher at Sacred Heart Secondary School, an all-girls Senior 1-6 boarding school in Gulu observed: "We might achieve so many things through education, but without the skills to build and sustain peace in our communities, all our successes will not be sustainable. UMECS School-Based Peace Education and Guidance and Counseling program is the way to go. Our school is ready and willing to be a pilot."

Otim Walter Knox, Head Teacher at Pabo Senior Secondary School, a mixed day school in Amuru District, commented: "How can we effectively help our students overcome difficult situations yet we (the teachers) are equally traumaized. I think UMECS School-Based Peace Education, Guidance and Counseling will empower us as educators to have improved coping mechanisms and create a more peaceful learning environment."

UMECS Country Director Charles Onencan conducts a discussion with teachers on November 5, 2009 at Gulu College, one of the seven pilot secondary schools, during the process of selecting teachers to be trained in peace education and guidance and counseling.

Oola Norbert Ben, Head Teacher at Sir Samuel Baker Secondary School, a Senior 1-6 all boys boarding school in Gulu offered to provide material assistance to the project. "We thank UMECS and SPRING/USAID for this innovative program that will help to build peace and address the psychosocial needs of children who were deeply affected by this war. We are also willing to utilize some of our space and equipment for this program."

Teachers from the seven pilot secondary schools and faculty from Unyama-National Teachers College (Unyama-NTC) will be certificate level trained by Makerere University - Institute of Adult and Continuing Education in Peace Education and Guidance and Counseling in November and December 2009. Starting in January, 2010, Peace Education courses will begin at the pilot secondary schools, augmented by student-led peace activities such as peace drama, peace debates and peace compositions. Psychosocial counseling services for students will also begin, as will guidance classes in such areas as problem solving, decision making, study techniques, relationships, peer counseling, and career guidance. Unyama-NTC faculty will start peace education and guidance and counseling classes for over 700 secondary school teacher trainees.

Students at Sacred Heart Secondary School in Gulu reviewing materials on peace education on November 4, 2009 during a UMECS presentation on School-Based Peace Education, Guidance and Counseling

The project is a one year pilot, the success of which will lead to project scale up in Northern Uganda and mainstreaming into the Uganda education and teacher training systems. Peace education includes the integration of economic development, tolerance, and gender equity. The project is also intended to contribute to education policy and curriculum reform. Deputy Commissioner Web expanded on this point. In thanking UMECS for partnering with the Ministry of Education, Web noted that "this project is so timely as this will inform curriculum review for both secondary schools and National Teachers Colleges. We are proud to be involved and look forward to the implementation."