Basically, it’s in order to complete our children’s education at the same high standard we have reached in our nursery and primary school. Since our first older children left our school and moved up to local secondary schools, there have been concerns about a deterioration in their learning and behaviour.

COH continues to support 42 leavers as they pass through their secondary education. They will be joined by a further 25 in November 2017 and then 44 in November 2018 giving a total of 111 within the next 18 months.

That support is much more than the cost of fees, uniforms and scholastic materials, since individuals continue to live disadvantaged home lives in the slum. It therefore also includes a mid-day meal back at COH school Monday to Friday where our welfare team staff can talk to students, check attendance and offer help and advice.

They also receive home visits and medical treatment as needed, plus full care for those who are homeless (we currently have 3 in our respite accommodation and 5 who are fostered).

We also provide them with 2 week programmes in the holidays to support development of personal and social skills, as well as study skills where we employ secondary school teachers to give specialist revision classes.

Despite our efforts, ex-COH pupils’ reports are showing a deterioration in learning and behaviour is worsening in terms of application and effort. And during this last year, there has been a growing number of teachers’ strikes in Ugandan state secondary schools, which is also having a serious negative impact on pupils’ learning and opportunity to achieve a better future life. 

So, watch out for more news about secondary education as our plans develop!