MTN Uganda has handed over a new fully equipped three-classroom block at
Frontiers PEAS High School in Isingiro District to boost the students’ learning
environment.
The project worth Shs202 million was funded by MTN Foundation, and implemented
through Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS), a non-government
organisation dedicated to improving access to quality education across the country.
Bryan Mbasa, the Senior Manager at MTN Foundation said the new classroom block
– equipped with desks and a water tank – will create space for at least 180 learners.
“We at MTN believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality education, and
this can only be achieved with adequate infrastructural facilities,” he said.
He said the new classroom block will enable Frontiers PEAS High School to admit
180 more students and thus be equipped with the right skills that will enable them to
succeed and improve not only their satisfaction but also their community and the
nation.
Currently, Frontiers PEAS High School has 183 learners.
This development comes at a time the number of students transitioning from primary
to secondary schools is on the rise following the introduction of Universal Secondary
Education.
Existing statistics indicate that learners transitioning from the country’s primary to
secondary schools stand at 68.5% but only one in three girls completes lower
secondary education.
Speaking during the handover ceremony, Isingiro West MP Rauben Arinaitwe said the
new classroom block will help boost access to secondary education in the
neighbouring communities.
“We thank MTN Uganda for the contribution to enable our learners’ access to
secondary education. We strongly believe that it is only through education that
poverty and hunger will be eliminated, giving people the chance to better lives,” he
said.
Over the years, MTN Uganda in partnership with PEAS has implemented 15
infrastructural projects in various educational institutions across Uganda such as
constructing classroom blocks and sanitary facilities at Kichwamba PEAS School in
Kabarole District, Noble PEAS High School and Aspire PEAS School in Ibanda
District which has positively impacted thousands of students in the Western region.
The company has also constructed classroom blocks and staff quarters for Bigodi
Secondary School in Kibale District and Rwengobe Primary School in Kamwenge
District respectively in the same region.
MTN Uganda has supported more than 42 ICT labs in various educational
institutions including six in technical institutes such as Amelo Technical Institute
located in Adjuman District, St. Simon Peter’s Vocational Training Centre in Hoima
District, and St. Daniel Comboni Polytechnic in Moroto District.
