Meet Najibu Sifa in Uganda

19/6/2023

4 mins read time

Meet Najibu Sifa. She is seven years old, has four siblings and her parents are part of the Cluster Learning Management Committee in their area.

Despite being six years old, Sifa had never received any education, until March 2022 when Children on the Edge introduced cluster learning in her village. After a year of incredible learning and catching up, Sifa has now moved onto a local primary school where she is thriving.

We spoke to her when she joined her cluster learning group to find out what she thought of her new classes…

HAPPY TO JOIN CLUSTER LEARNING

“Before the clusters, learning was just for the older children who could walk longer distances. I used to stay home and take care of my brother and sister while mama went to Bukere Market to sell ‘Matunda’ [fruits]. I was happy to start school because I got new friends and I love my teacher – Master Sipiriano.

I have learnt the names of animals in English, songs, numbers [she demonstrates her counting from 1-10], shapes [she mentions triangles, squares, circles, and ovals), na rangi [colours] blue, rouge [red], yellow, blanc [white] and green.

I enjoy going to the study area because I feel good about myself, especially when I give an answer and my classmates clap for me. I know how to draw pictures and can trace numbers, letters, and shapes [she demonstrates], and I teach mama and papa to count in English[she giggles!].”

Sifa laughing sitting on a blue mat during a cluster lesson

BUILDING SOLID FOUNDATIONS FOR FUTURE LEARNING

It is widely understood that the emotional, social, and physical development of young children has a direct effect on their overall development and on the kind of adult they will become. Sifa has a dream of becoming a doctor to support the most vulnerable people in her community.

She adds with a laugh, “I am excited and ready to join the primary school next year, and I know I am going to perform well because my teacher says I am smart.”

We were delighted when well over 500 (46%) top class learners from our cluster groups enrolled in primary schools across the five zones in the Kyaka settlement. This is in spite of a lack of primary provision in the settlement, which prevents many children from attending and is the subject of many interagency planning forums.

One of the children who has recently moved onto Primary school is Sifa, who transferred to Mukondo primary school this year, and is in purple class.

STARTING PRIMARY SCHOOL

We checked in with Sifa to find out what she thinks of her new school. She told us,

“Learning is interesting, I love my teacher and have made many friends. I understand what my teacher Evelyne teaches me in class, and I also help my friends who find difficulty in counting numbers, naming colours, and telling stories. We study for longer hours than we used to in the cluster group, but most of the things are the same.”

CLUSTER GROUPS HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT FOR FUTURE LEARNING

Sifa’s teacher Ninsiima Evelyne commented how much she appreciates the impact of the cluster groups on new learners in her class, saying,

“I found out about the cluster groups from the 21 learners in my class that attended them. You can clearly tell the difference between those that attended this early learning and those that didn’t. They are active, easily grasp things, know how to write, and can count from 1-20, they also teach us new nursery rhymes as they can confidently express themselves, in fact when I singled them out, I realised they are the best performers in class.”

The school’s headteacher added that,

“We registered a bigger number of primary one learners than we’ve ever enrolled in the past 3 years. The impact Children on the Edge Africa has created is huge and was unexpected. The general observations and assessment reports made by the teachers also show that the quality of learners is different. They are very active and interested in learning compared to previous years. The Cluster Learning Approach coupled with teacher training is a ‘game changer’. As children are able to access early years learning and the teachers are trained, the impact is marvellous! Please continue supporting this!”