The Church of Uganda has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the African Children’s Educational Initiative Inc. (ACEII), a U.S.-based non-profit organisation, to improve literacy education in Church-founded schools across the country.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed today July 28th by Rev Canon William Ongeng, the Provincial Secretary of Church of Uganda, and James Rodger Qualls, representing African Children’s Educational Initiative Inc., at the Church of Uganda Provincial Secretariat in Namirembe, Kampala.
The three-year partnership will see African Children’s Educational Initiative Inc. support Church of Uganda with high-quality literacy materials and educational resources to strengthen reading culture and academic performance in schools.
The initial phase of the partnership will focus on schools located in Luweero, Nakasongola, and Nakaseke Districts, forming Luwero Diocese.
According to the Memorandum of, African Children’s Educational Initiative Inc. will provide literacy-level-appropriate reading books, dictionaries, reference materials, and teacher resources and also offer workshops and training sessions to promote literacy awareness among educators and school administrators.
The Provincial Secretary Rev Canon Ongeng welcomed the partnership and urged beneficiary schools and communities to prepare the recipients not only to benefit from the support but also to develop a sense of responsibility toward others.
He also echoed the call by the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, The Most Rev Dr Stephen Samuel Kaziimba Mugalu, to support the empowerment of the boy child.
“Our focus has largely been on empowering the girl child, often at the expense of the boy child. This imbalance contributes to gender-based violence. The Archbishop has been asking us a critical question: ‘Who will marry these well-brought-up girls if the boys are left behind?” Rev Canon Ongeng asked.
Mr Qualls reaffirmed that African Children’s Educational Initiative Inc. will remains committed to supporting education systems in Africa through partnerships that are community-led, holistic, and values-driven.
According to the Church of Uganda Communications Officer Sadiiki Adam Mugume, the event was also attended by the Church of Uganda’s Program Officer for Drug Prevention,Review Kisakye and Ms. Gorret Kyamazima from Walter Secondary School, Bukusu which is one of the benefiting schools.
