Good News From Uganda on World Book Day

Today is World Book Day, and what better way to celebrate it than to receive news like this?

Worldreader recently got a note from Bernard Opio, project manager at the HUMBLE United Methodist school. We’re thrilled to see that only a few weeks after our launch there so much reading is happening!

“I was very happy on the day when the students had the e-reader competition and evaluation of the week’s use of the e-readers,” Bernard wrote.

Here are some the students’ most noteworthy achievements to date and how e-readers are helping them, according to Bernard:

1. The pupils have improved their reading skills because they read a lot of stories during reading time.
2. They are improving their English speaking skills as they read and listen to their teachers. They have also learned how to pronounce different words which they could not pronounce before. For example, Mercy Anyango could not pronounce the word ”cooperation” or “colonialism,” but she now can.
3.  The pupils are now able to use the world atlas (pictured above). This has been of great importance, and it has made the teacher’s work in P4, P5 and P6 easier.
4. Using the Kindle, the kids have improved their vocabulary by playing games, especially those that help them to form words. Prisca Acheng, a P5 student, was able to complete the jig-saw. She was very excited, and this encouraged others to continue trying on the same.
5. The e-reader has helped them use the Bible; before they had to carry a printed copy. Doreen Nantale used to find it difficult to carrying the Bible to the fellowship room, but now she enjoys the use of the e-reader during school fellowships.
6. The use of the e-readers occupies the pupils, especially when the teachers are not in their classes and during library time.
7. They enjoy reading the interesting stories during leisure time.
8. It has greatly improved the students’ ability to count numbers by playing Number Slides.
9. The use of the dictionary has greatly helped students learn the meanings of new words. The teachers have also encouraged the pupils to look out for new words during lessons.
10. The playing of puzzle games has improved their puzzle knowledge.                                                                                                                                                                          

What the Students Say

After the e-reader competition, the students offered some general comments on the use of e-readers these last few weeks, Bernard said. Here’s what the students are talking about and what they would like to see:

1. The administration should add more e-readers so that every student can have one, and  avoid them using in shifts.
2. The project manager should have a proper time table on use of e-readers. Some classes had not been given enough time to use them.
3. Pupils should make the best use of e-readers because some learners do more game playing than reading.
4. Rules should be reinforced so that student don’t misuse, spoil and destroy the e-readers.
5. Lastly, they thanked and appreciated Tina and the team for considering Humble United Methodist School, “in the whole of Uganda and most of all in Mukono district to have such a great privilege of using e readers. MAY GOD BLESS YOU.”