SDG at Labala Primary School!
November 7, 2015
Labala Primary School is one of the 15 schools involved in our School Demonstration Gardens programme. Every day, 760 pupils, from P1 to P7, flock to their classrooms. Hearing about the project at the first sensitisation meeting and launch, the school and community welcomed the project wholeheartedly – over 200 parents turned up to the first sensitisation meeting!
The school is excited to see the programme bring about positive changes at their school and have already identified where its profits are most needed:
“The money that we shall get out of the items sold will go to – because in a school of this kind, we have certain items which the school cannot afford to buy for the learners, like the learning materials, part of it we will give and then go and buy those items which will facilitate learning – no only that! And also the needy, we shall make part of it to help the needy.” (Charles, School Management Committee Chairperson)
In their first season the parents SDG group planted Although they struggled with an unexpectedly prolonged draught and pests, their enthusiasm and interest has not ceased. Contrarily, their number has even increased from 47 to 57 members! Additionally, Christopher, a SDG member and PTA chairperson, is happy to tell us about the positive changes it has triggered:
“At first and foremost, it has motivated parents that if they contribute, that if they come to school and then they contribute towards the development of the school, it will lead to better education outcomes of the learners of this school. And then secondly, it has encouraged the parents to work hard, because they know they will benefit, and also the children will benefit! And also it has created unity among the parents who are here, both male and female in also doing other farming activities! – Like in the villages, in the communities where they come from they think weeding is women’s responsibility, but here in this school garden, both men and women are doing the same and they do it very well. So for me, these are very positive things!”
They harvested 1/4 acre of onions and 1/4 acre of tomatoes at the end of the first season – and when they sold it, they made a profit of a total of 249 000 sh! And their banana trees are also growing well!
With the pupils club up and running, Charles starts seeing the benefits of it:
“It helps them, because generally to my seeing, not all those pupils will go for further study. The little skills, they have acquired here, as they leave school, they will use it at home, to help them to sustain their life. And when they are in a club like that they come together. As they come together they will share ideas, by so doing that one, it will increase their ability of thinking, sharing ideas, coming together as one person, respect one’s idea and many others.”
Additionally, there has been a significant reduction of pupils not taking their end of year exams from 30 to only 10! Furthermore, teachers have also made great use of the parent-led School Demonstration Garden, using it as a site of practical learning for certain lessons, such as agriculture. Thereby, the pupils are able to get a glimpse of how agricultural theory is put into practice, automatically boosting their own learning !
In addition, we were thrilled to hear that parents have started to take their acquired knowledge out to the greater community and to apply newly learnt skills and techniques in their home gardens! – one of these parents is Christopher of whom you will find out more next week!
