By Alfred Opio
A new education initiative aimed at improving literacy and numeracy among primary school learners has been launched in Pallisa District, with stakeholders hopeful it will strengthen foundational learning and boost academic performance across local schools.
The program, spearheaded by Building Tomorrow, brings together school leaders, teachers, district education officials, and parents to address persistent gaps in reading, writing, and basic mathematics among lower primary learners.
Speaking during a meeting with 40 selected head teachers at the district headquarters, Regional Coordinator Patrick Mugyenyi said the organization is committed to supporting schools through a community-powered approach focused on foundational skills.
“Today in Pallisa we are meeting the 40 head teachers that we are going to work with under the Building Tomorrow program,” Mugyenyi said. “Building Tomorrow is a new NGO in Pallisa that is here to promote literacy and numeracy for all children.”
He explained that the rollout will be phased, beginning with consultations with district leaders and head teachers, followed by engagements with classroom teachers to ensure smooth implementation.
The program will primarily target learners in Primary Three, Four, and Five, especially those who have fallen behind in foundational learning.
“Our interest is P3 to P5, particularly children who have missed foundational studies. We intend to support them while they are still in school so they can read, write, and handle numeracy tasks confidently, enabling them to excel in other subjects,” he said.
According to Mugyenyi, the initiative was developed after recognizing that many teachers struggle to meet the needs of learners who grasp concepts at different speeds.
“We realized it is hard for teachers to teach all learners at the same level. This project targets those who are unable to grasp concepts at the same pace so they can also understand what is being taught just like everyone else,” he added.
District education authorities welcomed the intervention, describing it as timely. John Opedun, the Pallisa District Inspector of Schools, urged head teachers to fully support the project.
“This initiative will help in sharpening dull pupils,” Opedun said, encouraging school leaders to work closely with classroom teachers and project staff to ensure its success.
School administrators also expressed optimism. Beatrice Joy Imeesa, head teacher of Opwateta Primary School, said the program addresses long-standing challenges in learner performance.
“This project has come at the right time,” she said, noting that weak literacy and numeracy foundations in middle primary often contribute to poor results at Primary Seven.
Imeesa added that many parents have raised concerns about children advancing to upper classes without basic reading and arithmetic skills, a gap the new program seeks to close.
Through the Building Tomorrow initiative, education stakeholders in Pallisa hope to bridge learning gaps, improve classroom outcomes, and equip children with the essential skills needed for academic success and future opportunities.
