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Brief Report on the Progress at MacKay Memorial College
Gertrude Sekabira, Principal
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The school has positively progressed in public image, academic performance, co-curricular and enrollment. All is attributed to a number of factors which include; support from TEAA members, improvement in the environment and structures and better services offered at the school. The Scholarship Scheme. This was initiated by Arlone Child. It has tremendously helped financially needy but academically able students. The scheme started with 28 students; after one year it was increased to 36. But now, they are 34 and of these, two students are on full sponsorship. All qualify for continuation. Three girls and one boy went to other schools for Advanced level. These had very good performance. The scholarship support created a positive image to the school and has contributed to improved financial status of the school. However, the scholarship scheme has been complemented by a piggery and crop husbandry project which has catered for eight needy students that did not get chance to access TEAA sponsorship. An article expressing gratitude to Arlone Child was included in this year's school magazine. Computers. The computer project, which was spearheaded by Mr. Henry Hamburger, has also elevated Mackay to another level. Recalling the state the school was in before TEAA support, this is a tremendous improvement. The school had one typewriter, which was being rented from the Secretary. Currently, the school has 20 computers. Initially, TEAA funded the acquisition of 3 brand new computer sets, and then got a donation of two computers, bought three secondhand sets and later bought another two sets. In December 2005, Betty and Samuel Bell visited the school and donated 10 computers. This boosted the computer project. The challenge was now room but TEAA came to our rescue when they supported a renovation of an old science laboratory to be converted into a computer laboratory. This made another development because there is a computer laboratory that can accommodate 40 students at a go. In June this year, Mr. Mark Melrose and Marttie, his daughter, visited the school. They boosted the project with instructional software. They also conducted demonstration lessons to both the teachers and the students. Library. The Library project has been boosted and supported by TEAA. This has improved the academic performance of the school because students and teachers can now access the materials which were not be easily accessed. General. The support from TEAA has helped the school to improve financially and because the services offered have improved expectations of the customers. This has helped increased population from 265 in 2001 to 600 students today. We have finished the laboratories and constructed a two classroom block due to the increased enrollment and completion of the labs which were being used as classrooms. The retention is also very high as compared to the previous years and a number of sponsoring organizations have moved their sponsored children from neighbouring schools to Mackay because of confidence those organizations gained in the school. |