Best performing students at Airtel adopted schools, St. Ponsiano PrimaryKyamula School in Makindye, Sseke Primary School in Lwengo District, Ndeeba Church of Uganda Primary Schoolin Kayunga Districtand Nanfugaki Primary School in Iganga District, have been rewarded by Airtel Uganda with a secondary school requirements starter packscholastic materials to kick start their secondary education.

St. Ponsiano Kyamula Primary School, Sseke Primary School, Ndeeba Church of Uganda Primary School and Nanfugaki Primary School were adopted and refurbished in between 20112012 and 2015 under the Airtel Uganda Adopt-A-School Program initiative.

The telecommunications’ company, under the guidance of the Ministry of Education and Sports which nominates various schools,selects or, “adopts” a school, and goes on to refurbish, construct new and donate items including but not limited to: improve all of its facilities including classroom blocks, toilet facilities, water harvesting and libraries.

Since its inception, this program has ensured access to quality education for hundreds of underprivileged children from disadvantaged communities, and has therefore contributed to the overall development of the country.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony, Mrs. Charity R. Bukenya, the Corporate Social Responsibility Manager at Airtel Uganda said “By acknowledging and rewarding the best performing pupils, we are providing these children with a platform to showcase their academic potential and help other children understand the value of academic excellence the opportunities they have never had before,” adding that Airtel believes that quality education is not only the most important tool for social –economic development of our country but also a key weapon in the bridging the knowledge, skills and poverty gaps in Uganda fight against poverty.

“Though, the pupils’ performance declined generally countrywide, at the Adopted schools we managed to have 12 candidates pass in Division one in 2017 compared to 2016, where 21 candidates passed in Division one and we believe that by celebrating and rewarding their performance, we are making a positive and long-lasting contribution towards their future and towards the development of their communities,” She added.

This is not the first time that Airtel Uganda is coming out to recognize the best performing pupils in their adopted schools.

Last year, Airtel awarded pupils of St. Ponsiano Primary School, Nanfugaki Primary School and Sseke primary School who had excelled in the Primary Leaving Examinations with items to enable them start their secondary school journey seamlessly continue to Secondary school.

“We intend to extend this awards program to all of our adopted schools in order to motivate our students to always work smart to achieve any goals they set their mind to,” Bukenya concluded.