St Mark Nyakibale SS

I am Fortunate Akanyihayo co-founding director and headteacher St Mark Nyakibale Secondary School. I have taught in secondary school since 2005 after my graduation with a BA(Education) to date.  I am a passionate educationist whose desire to help people discover and maximize their potential led to writing You Are Capable (2015) and forming an inspirational firm - You Can Initiative through which we have been conducting motivational talks and other inspirational programs in schools and communities around the country.

 I also wrote Concise O’ Level English (2014) which in 2019 won the BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD by The Book Forum of Uganda.

Stirred by this deep passion to make a difference, I started a school where we intend to holistically impact on the young generation and the community.

I am a master trainer for other teachers on learner-centered curriculum selected by NCDC (National Curriculum Development Centre) January 2020. 

For long, Uganda, like many other African countries, has used a Knowledge-Based curriculum which encourages Rote memorization ignoring occupational and life skills. Today many schools don't prepare students for the world of tomorrow. There's a wide gap between what's taught at school and the skills needed in life.

Our project is a learner-centered curriculum which integrates life, occupational and hands-on skills in the learning process. We aim at changing school from being solely for students and academic achievement to a lifelong Learning center for all community members and a hub for improving the quality of life and income in surrounding communities.

We aim at producing Empowered responsible citizen who are:

-  Creative & innovative, 

- Self-confident, 

- promoters  of gender equality

- Critical thinkers with problem-solving skills, positive attitude towards work and learning and   

- Social Entrepreneurs who can provide integral leadership for the community 

Today many schools use a Knowledge-Based curriculum that encourages Rote memorization and ignores hands-on, occupational and life skills. There is a wide gap between the skills taught in school and those needed in life. Moreover there are fewer secondary schools compared to primary schools and a very high school drop-out rate at lower secondary in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

In Uganda less than half of all P.7 Leavers are enrolled in secondary school, MoE&S(2017). In Rukungiri district, where our school has been established, for example, there are 350 Primary Schools feeding only 48 secondary schools then country-wide  20,313 Primary Schools and only about 3,220 Secondary schools according to SchoolsUganda.com (2019)

    According to UNESCO, dropout rate increased from 18.2% to 37.2% from 2013 to 2016 and is still rising. The major causes of school dropout and failing to join secondary from primary school were identified as low incomes/lack of school fees, lack of interest in education by parents, early marriages and long distance between schools and homes.

The idea of holistic education has generally been ignored. The few schools  that balance the development of the the cognitive, psycho-motor and affective domains are mostly located in the urban areas and are very expensive.

             Entrepreneurs' Day

St Mark Nyakibale SS is mixed; admits boys and girls. It is both day and boarding; some students report at 7:30 am, go back home by 5 pm while others report when the term begins and spend 70-99 days at school as boarding students. This period is called a school term and every academic year has three terms. In our Ugandan setting an academic year begins in February and ends in December.

Out of the 32 hours of study weekly; we dedicated 5 hours  to hands-on skills and ICT. Other skills are imparted through;

-        Peer learning and dramatization ; learners are grouped in the classroom even during lessons to learn from and respect each other, and develop communication skills . 

-       Fieldwork and some lessons conducted outside class; for learners to interact with the environment. 

-        Entrepreneurial skills; Each class has its own project which it plans for, manages, shares and reinvests the proceeds.These products are sold to parents, fellow students and the school. 

-        During holidays we organize an Entrepreneurs’ day/The Achievers' Forum; Students share with parents skills learnt at school and a  special lecture on financial literacy is prepared for Parents/guardians and invited community members.

Our school targets parents with children who have completed or still in primary seven and planning to join secondary school. This is because we intend to take on only senior ones every passing year. We also target those who want their children in a mixed secondary school. 

This being a new idea different from what other existing schools are offering, we figured out that beginning with senior one is what works for our vision. 

We are looking for parents who believe that their children don’t only need to excel academically but in other aspects of life as well. 

Most of our parents are low income earners actually some earn so low that they cannot even manage school fees. Since we do not want to see our children dropping out of school, we decided to concentrate on two things;

- One, give a bursary to three best performing students every term, 

- Then take community members, especially parents, through financial literacy education to help those who find it difficult to pay fees . We guide parents/guardians to appreciate the benefits of quality education to their children especially those who don't show interest in their children's Education.

Many People have always taken a school to be solely for students and academic achievement. We want communities around us to understand they are part of the school and the school part of them. That it is not only for academic achievement but also acquisition of other skills relevant to real life challenges.

 We elevate opportunities for all because; since  parents who cannot afford fees are usually left out and their children drop out, we include them in our business classes and allow them to supply products to school. Many have even learnt and begun using financial institutions like banks.

Early 2014, my former student who had excelled at senior six came to visit me. Out of about 99,000 who had sat,  she was among the 4000 selected  for government sponsorship in Makerere, Uganda’s most prestigious university. Rather than rejoice, she was depressed. Her aunt who had assumed guardianship (after she lost both her parents), couldn't stand her doing Music Dance and Drama for “silly people” and instead wanted her to study LAWS. With difficulty we convinced Auntie. Karu's now doing her PHD in Drama and lecturing in East Africa's best Universities. 

Moved by this and many similar cases, in 2015, I started YOU CAN INITIATIVE(UG)  with two teachers, to inspire students appreciate their unique potentialities and  empower parents/guardians to support their children's dreams/aspirations through THE ACHIEVERS' FORUM. I felt we were not physically reaching everybody so I shared these Ideas in a book: YOU ARE CAPABLE. 

From our various interactions, with many students and communities we realized a one-time talk may sometimes not create a lasting impact, therefore in 2017 we hatched an idea of a school where skills would be given space in the learning process, communities involved and individuals shaped to uniquely solve life's daily challenges.

 I have always been passionate about inspiring, motivating and empowering other people to realize and appreciate their uniqueness. As an Educationist, young people have a special place in my heart. Over the years, I have realized that when you empower a child, the parent/guardian also needs to be dealt with lest the child meets suffocating opposition, limitations and discouragement. 

After reading Jack Canfield's THE SUCCESS PRINCIPLES in 2013 I resolved on my life's purpose. My life's Purpose would be 'To inspire and empower people to maximize their potential and live joyful and fulfilled lives' This it has been and still is. To fulfill my purpose, I started with my students; I would take off time to help them understand their life's vision, set goals for the term, for the year as well as long-term goals.  

I have been doing this with my students, even those of other schools and I see promising results. However better results are achieved with consistency. That's why we started a school, to consistently do it and also prove to other schools that it is possible to integrate this with academics. My deep desire is to see all schools empowering their learners and impacting whole communities.

I have been teaching secondary school for 15 years. My co-founder and I are blessed to have been teaching in one of the best schools in the country, actually on the African continent because in September 2019 it received a continental award for offering holistic education to the Girl child. This ward was given by the African Union in Addis Ababa- Ethiopia. A few of our friends from that school and other selected model schools have offered us time during their off-school time in addition to a team of full-time teachers. All this builds confidence in parents to entrust us with their children.

I am a seasoned teacher of English Language and Literature, and have written a  book Concise O’ Level English which in 2019 won the BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD by the Book Forum of Uganda.

 During my Entrepreneurship Impact MBA program, my business plan for this project got an award among the best. This gives me great confidence that we're on the right track. 

My co-founder has been the head of science and laboratories’ department, a graduate and excellent teacher of Mathematics and Chemistry with a 16 years’ experience and sits on various schools’ boards and committees.

  In the region where we are located the best performing schools are single sex school i.e. Immaculate Heart Girls’ School and St Charles Lwanga Seminary (for only boys). They are high end, therefore expensive for many community members. Moreover some parents want their children in a mixed school. 

We started constructing the school structures when we were still teaching at Immaculate Heart Girls School. Our immediate teacher associates were quick to tell us how we are going to lose our jobs and our project as well. We then understood our headteacher had been fed with the same information and were not sure how she would react.

We decided to go and face her.  We explained to her, that since her school was a high end school, moreover for girls only, we had thought of starting something that can cater for low class at an affordable cost, with quality services for both girls and boys. She was very excited, pledged to support us and even announced it during a staff meeting.

She has offered us moral support which has compelled other teachers to also give us some hours with students during the times when they are off work. This has been a big factor in promoting good will from the public as they relate our starting school with a school that is already achieving great in various fields.

In my country, there is an apex for all cooperatives called UCSCU (Uganda cooperative Savings and Credit Union). It has a Board of Directors of only five members elected by the general meeting of SACCO leaders. (SACCO is Savings And Credit Cooperative Organisation)

In 2018, while representing my local cooperative of Nyakibale Development SACCO in an Annual General Meeting for all SACCOs in Uganda, I decided to contest with an aim to influence leaders and decision makers see the value of Financial literacy Education and a saving culture among youth and children. When I declared my intention many laughed because on top of being very young, according to them, I was from a rural SACCO. After explaining  my passion  and intention for contesting, I won the election. At 36 I was the youngest member on that Board and also the youngest since 1972, so I was told. Today we have seen many SACCOs begin children and youth accounts with special features and also rolled out Financial Literacy Education starting with Northern Uganda in partnership with Savings Banks Foundation for International Cooperation. Now many other parts of the county are doing these training programs on their own.

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Most people have always taken a school as solely for students and academic achievement.  Because of this, most students work hard to excel in the examinations subjected to them periodically. In my country, students are even subjected to remedial classes so that they can get many ‘A’s in the national examinations and appear in the leading newspapers. Are these ‘A’s translating into solutions in the real world? Hardly.

While planning for our project, we figured that the 36 hours stipulated for study weekly, by the Education ministry, are more than enough so we dedicated five hours a week to hands-on skills, ICT then integrated occupational and life skills in the learning process.

We introduced; 

- peer learning where in some lessons learners are grouped to not only learn from and respect each other but also develop effective communication skills.

- Fieldwork and out of class lessons, for learners to interact with the environment and appreciate some climate change related challenges.

- Entrepreneurial, and practical business skills which, in some schools, are considered a waste of time.

- Time for Computer practice and clubs like Drama, debate among others as well as sports.

On top of their academic achievements, students leave school equipped skills to survive in this volatile world.     

By actively involving the community, we are systematically changing a school from being solely for students and academic achievement to a lifelong Learning center for all community members and a hub for improving the quality of life and income.

Problem

Today many schools use a Knowledge-Based curriculum that encourages Rote memorization and ignores occupational, hands-on and life skills. There is a wide gap between the skills taught in school and those needed in life, high school drop-out rate at lower secondary in Sub-Saharan Africa Majorly because schools are taken as solely for students and academic achievement.

Our Audience

Parents, children, surrounding communities community

Entry points

We begin by advertising as we explain our value proposition and what makes us unique. Vacancies are given only in senior one. Parents and students are given more orientation as they report for senior one.

Steps  and strategies for change

- We have normal subject lessons. Sometimes the class arrangement is altered and learners study in groups to develop communication skill, learn empathy and respect each other.

- special hours for hands-on, skills 

- intentional integration of life and occupational skills in the learning process and other school activities.

Outputs  

As they go through this skills training, our students gain more confidence, they relate better, love learning and work and they begin producing simple items after their hands-on training sessions.

As for the parents and the community, after the training many start small income projects, others manage their businesses better, and some have even sometimes brought their products to school to supply. 

Reduction of drop-out rate. In senior one term one we lost 3 students, in term two after the talk with parents, all students came back for 3rd term as well as Term 1 senior two. This year 2020 we had planned the training for April towards the end of term one so that we retain 100% in that class. We intend to maintain that in the subsequent years

Key Outcomes

_ Self-reliant students, increased incomes for parents with ability to meet their needs and easily pay school fees, a community that appreciates school as a learning center for all.

_ A new generation of responsible citizens, social entrepreneurs and integral leaders of our communities and a hub for improving the quality of life and income.

Having completed the first phase of construction and creating awareness about our project in 2018, Last year 2019 in February, we started operating. 

We admitted 83 students but 3 dropped out in the very first term. This year 2020, we admitted 85 making a total of 165. Those are only students. We currently employ 19 people. In our financial literacy training about 200 parents/guardians and community members have participated over the last two years. This is a total number of about 400 people directly affected by our project.

In the coming year we are expecting a senior one class of about 90. This is a conservative number because of the COVID-19 pandemic which has not allowed us to visit social gatherings and advertise our school. With this number, that’s about 150 more new parents. We shall recruit 3 more staff members.  An addition of more 243 will bring the number to over 600

In the next five years of operation we expect to have impacted on over 430 students, trained about 800 to 1000 parents and community members and about 40 staff members. That brings the total of about 1200-1500 people in the next five years. About 30% of these will be families raised above the poverty line. 

If along the way we influence other schools to take up our model, the impact will be even greater!!! 

In the next one year we shall take up another class of about 90. Those are about 255 people with occupational and life skills. In five years it would be over 400 people.

Every class usually is guided to start a project, we intend to continue guiding these students so to run their projects so that next year we produce enough vegetables to feed the school the whole year and the class making detergents can supply the school and even have more to supply the neighboring schools and the community.

In the coming year we want to also acquire two chalk making machines as another class project. We want our students from needy families to be able to pay at least half or more or even full fees so as to lessen the burden on their parents.

We  also intend to construct a hall where we can meet with the parents because when they come we erect tents and sometimes when it’s a rainy season the rain and wind disrupt us.

When we take members through the Financial Literacy Training, we want to set aside a fund to  help see follow up on the businesses begun after training as a measure of impact. If in every year we lead to improved income of at least 30% of all the homes of our students and an additional percentage from the community, it will be an achievement.  

A school is capital intensive project. Our first barrier is infrastructure.  Since we started with only the founders’ savings, we were able to put minimum rooms could suffice for one class. In 2019 we were very fine as well as this year 2020 because we had added another room. However, Next year we are expected to admit a third class so we need to construct more buildings. The funds we collect from school fees are not enough to do all this. Some of the out-of class activities for skills need funds which cannot be raised with the little money paid by the students.

Sometimes more students want vacancies but we refuse because of space.

The other barrier is more of technical and cultural. Since the school is new, some parents are still skeptical to give us their children because usually when they are choosing schools for their children, they first look at the S.4 rankings in the newspaper and since for us we just started S.1, we cannot appear in the papers. So they claim we have no history to refer to.

Additionally, most of them are used to the knowledge-based curriculum, when you tell the the child needs life skill, occupational and hands-on skills they do not easily grasp the importance of that. 

We started with one class partly to solve the infrastructure challenges.  Since we had one class and four rooms, we were able to have two rooms for the boys’ and girls’ dormitories, one for the class the other for the dining hall; it would also serve as a multipurpose hall with some alterations in arrangement of the furniture. We added a room to cater for new entrants of 2020.

As for 2021 and 2022, we are trying to participate in activities like this  Elevate prize so that we can raise funds and put up all the major structures of a full school and also create a wider brand awareness. We are still skeptical about a loan because in our country  interest can even go to as high as  36% p.a

To build faith and good will from the public, we have employed our friends from neighboring schools who are already known for their excellence and experience. These are more or less volunteering but at the same time training our younger staff. The required minimum standard time for a teacher to be in contact with learners by the industry is 16 hours is 24 lessons of 40 minutes each. We started with only senior one, each teacher is expected to give 1:20 Minutes -3 hours a week depending on the subject. This makes it easy for them to come in during their off-hours. Their presence at our school also builds confidence in our students, parents   and the surrounding communities

We partner with Educate Uganda, they give our students hands-on skills at small fee which we pay annually. 

The Business model for St Mark Nyakibale Secondary School is as below:

Key Partners

Fortunate Akanyihayo

Raymond Rukundo

Value proposition:

St. Mark Nyakibale Secondary School is a mixed secondary school that helps parents who want their children to acquire a kind of Education that combines academic excellence, discipline and a variety of skills at an affordable cost and in a community that is part of the school and the school part of the community.

Customer segments

Parents & guardians who: 

• have children in primary school
• have children in P.7 ready to join S.1
• want their children in a mixed secondary school
•  are interested in their children acquiring other skills

Activities

Teaching

Skills training for both students and parents

Co-curricular activities 

Resources

- Teachers

- Non-teaching staff

- Good will of the local community

- Financial resources like fees collection

Customer relationships

How we Get

Visiting primary schools on parents days and talking to parents with their children especially candidates of P.7

Announcements and simple adverts on Radios

Social media: Facebook and WhatsApp

Word of mouth 

Announcements in worship places and on public events

Keep & Grow

-Quality teaching,

-School visitation, careers days, and exhibition days

-Entrepreneurship day for parents and the surrounding community

- Co-curricular activities competitions

- Bursaries to excellent performers

- Referrals

Channels:

• Referrals
• School communal activities
• Staff members
• Media

costs

 fixed and variable costs

Revenues

• Fees from Day and Boarding students
• Sale of different products from students projects
• Possible grants & donations

Our day students pay $52.8 termly which is about 158.4 annually while our boarding students pay and 102.8 termly which is 308.4 annually. If we were not spending on acquisition of assets like buildings, vehicles and computers, this would be enough to sustain us.

Apparently we are searching for about $300,000 to complete all the structures needed for a complete school for both O’ and A’ Level S.1-4 then S.5 & S.6). This we intend to raise by participating in activities like this at Solve for donations or grants in these first five years or get a long term loan  from our local financial institutions.

When our needed structures are up and the students projects are running properly we shall be self-sustainable. this we project in the next three years.

In the last 12 months we raised about $19,420 this year it was expected to double to over $38,850 because the number of students more than doubled. However some months have so far been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic because in my country all education institutions were temporarily closed.

Our current budget is about $299,750 broken down as below;  $201,330 for buildings $55,556  for a school double cabin pick-up, $20,889 for other school equipment like computers and furniture,  $6,666.7 to invest in class projects $4,666.8 out-door playground, and $11,112 in-door play ground

Our estimated expenses this year were a total $22,777.8 for the annual fixed and variable costs

With our inadequate infrastructure, we hope the Elevate prize will help us in construction of the very seriously needed rooms, help us to market and reach other people beyond our district and even our country.  With the funds we shall be able to have more students projects as well as introduce new hands-on skills by employing more experts in these skills.

We shall be able to admit more students since we shall have enough space, learning materials and equipment.

We shall also be able to purchase more computers for the ICT lesson such that we have at least a ratio of 1computer to 5 students and not one computer to 60 students like we have been having.

We also hope hire more experienced staff and experts to add on our expert friends since they tend to be more expensive. We believe that in a period of five years or so they will have trained our younger staff.

We need partners who will help us in the areas expressed in this form. We basically need funds for infrastructural development. When our structures are up, we shall be ready to admit more students. That is why we shall need  more assistance with marketing, media and exposure.  we shall need to recruit talent especially for skills, and information technology since we even want include aspects of E-learning as soon as as we as school get the necessary gadgets.   

We are willing to partner with any organization that will finds our mission, our goals and value proposition and projected impact lie within their interests too.