DIRECTOR OF STUDIES’ REPORT FOR SCHOOL - WEBSITE

Mr.Kanyerezi Erisam the contributor of this article joined the Staff in October 1992 as a teacher of History and Luganda.Since then he has served Budo in different capacities with commitment and diligence. He was Assistant Housemaster England House (1993-2003), Welfare master (1994-1997)), Head of Department(1994 todate); Examinations Master(2003 todate), P.T.A Teacher representative(1997-2003), Patrol master (2000-2003),and now a Director of Studies (2004 todate).

INTRODUCTION

The Office of the Director of Studies (The D.O.S) was started in May 2004. This came as the Headmaster’s response to the Ministry of Education & Sports’ requirement that all large secondary schools should appoint a Director of Studies. The basic duty of this office since its inception has been to manage the process of teaching and learning on a daily basis.

BASIC ACADEMIC ISSUES:

These include the following:
(i)The quality of teaching. Quality refers to the required standard.This begins with the quality of the delivery by the teacher. In what areas is a teacher outstanding? What is the masterly of the content by the teachers? The various competencies of teachers. It also involves the application of the relevant method of teaching that suits the needs of the learners, and effective handling of the content. This area begins with timely schemes of work during the holidays and lesson planning.Quality teaching should ultimately translate into quality results measured by the number of distinctions or trophies won in national contests.

(ii)The intensity of teaching.The frequency of the contact hours between the teacher and the learner guided by clear objectives and its proper utilization. This involves timetabling as well as the commitment by teachers to turn up on time and complete the syllabus in time before MOCKS.There may be teachers who instead of teaching as per the objectives of the lessons end up digressing in telling stories!

(iii)The quality of teaching materials .This is very much to do with the quality of the teachers. Are they competent in handling the content? Are they resourceful? Are they reliable? Are they responsible? Are they willing to embrace training to match with changing trends in the external environment? Do they understand the external environment and adjust accordingly? It also involves the way notes are organized, the chalkboard planning and the layout of the apparatus;the relevance and appropriateness of the teaching materials. Are the notes used in class updated every year or the teacher has a penchant for yellow notes? Is the teacher using the latest editions of textbooks or the outdated editions?

(iv)The reading and practicing facilities . The Departmental libraries, teachers’ prep rooms, laboratories, computer rooms, blackboards, prep rooms, the tests set and marked the reading and practicing facilities.

(v)Students’ study management. This involves the management of the form periods for study skills and effective use of the prep time without interference from other forces to enable students to consolidate whatever has been taught. Is there a follow up by each department to check whether students are revising what is taught?

(vi)Career guidance: Students need guidance on the changing trends such as the current emphasis on science development in the country. Students need information on the distinction between a career and a career path. They need information on the new courses available for scholarships in various universities available in the country.

ACHIEVEMENTS RECORDED

1. MONITORING AND EVALUATION

(i) This has been a continuous exercise of checking on lesson attendance by both teachers and students using class monitors’ reports (These have operated as student-voices) and regular management by moving around the school to detect factors that might affect the institutional performance. In this regard we have continued to develop a computerized monitoring system. This has improved the tracking system on students’ behaviour.Teachers’ reports on the students’ behavior are now readily available and can be accessed by any administrators during report signing. This has provided an opportunity to students to reflect on their strengths and weaknesses and see where they need to improve.

Students’ lesson attendance is monitored and the culprits are punished by detention, filling -in the REDS, plus calling in their parents to conduct joint counseling sessions for the students.

(ii) Teachers’ truancy is checked by writing bi-weekly attendance reports to the Deputy Headmaster (Academics) followed by official warnings. We present these reports without favourism. The main purpose of this has been to increase teachers’ efficiency by avoiding unnecessary time wastage .

(iii) Another important aspect of evaluation, which has become an acceptable practice is the analysis of tests and performance in National Examinations as well as University Admissions to various Programmes.

The evaluation reports made have supported the Careers Department in guiding students on the changing trends in the Public Universities,and the available programmes for Government Sponsorship.

The analyses and reports are used to carry out at least three guidance sessions in the year for the candidate classes to increase their awareness of the competitive world they are in, and to help the institution to overcome complacency.

(iv) We regularly update students on the programmes available in public universities.

2.THE PREP COMMITTEE AND STUDENTS STUDY MANAGEMENT

(i) We ensure that at least three meetings of the Prep Committee are conducted every year and the minutes are forwarded to the Deputy in charge of Academics. In these meetings the members agree on the duty rota, the supervision and administration of punishments of offenders. The following are the members:

Mr. E. Kanyerezi – Chairperson,
Mr. Nuwagaba - Assistant DOS,
Ms. E. Nattabi,
Mr. J. Kibuuka,
Mrs. A. Kaddu,
Mrs. Y. Lubambula,
Mr. R. Wekirira.

(ii) The committee ensures that the daily supervision of preps is done by carrying out regular patrols. The girls are provided with their prep rooms and female supervisors to enable them have maximum concentration.

(iii) The Prep Committee ensures that the servicing of the two generators both at the boys’ end and girls’ end is regularly done to meet the exigencies of UMEME load shedding.. As a result morning preps and evening preps are regularly attended and there is enough lighting system during the official working hours.

3. We have been able to win the cooperation of most teachers to teach extra lessons to enable the candidate classes to complete the syllabus by July.Some of these lessons are conducted in the evenings ,Saturdays and during night Preps.All this has been done to instill in teachers and students the importance of time utilization for academic excellency without compromising the other core values of the school.

4.We have put in place the Internal Academic Committee comprising of Ms. Musoke Deputy HM, as the Chairperson. The committee members are Ms. M. Muddu, Mr. V. Ntanzi, Ms. Nansubuga, Ms. S. Kiryabwire and Mr. G. Kakuru. As the professional arm of the institution, we recommended that note books checking be introduced during report signing every term. The outcome of this has been an improvement in notes-keeping among the students.

5. COORDINATION OF THE INTERNAL TESTS

(i)This has been a collective responsibility of the Deputy Academics, the D.O.S, and the Assistant D.OS.We have been able to follow up students that might have skipped the tests and ensure that they do not return to their homes with gaps in their reports.

(ii) By printing out the mark sheets, we have been able to give students a chance to check whether their marks have been correctly entered. This is intended to improve on the public relations between the staff and students.

King’s College, Budo UCE Results for 2000-2007

King’s College, Budo admissions to government scholarship for the last five years university academic years

8. REASONS FOR OUR SUCCESS
(a)There is good discipline in the school which is achieved through sensible rules implemented by the staff,student leaders and administration.
(b)The school environment is always kept in regular repair.The grass lawns are properly maintained to refresh the minds of students and staff.There is plenty of green and five playing grounds to relax the minds.There is regular repairs in the nine dormitories.
(c )The school believes in and practices academic excellency as one of its core and primary values.The biggest per centage of students admitted are admitted on the basis of having scored quality results either in P.L.E or U.C.E .
(d)We have a clear vision and purpose which is understood by most of the students and the staff.
(e)The teachers and administration value the contributions made by the students and we do recognize these in our daily teaching, every Monday assembly,on Founder’s Day,Athletics Day and Annual Prize giving day.We praise and reward them with certificates.
(f)Lessons begin and end on time.There is regular monitoring and evaluation as pointed above.
(g)Assessment of students is regular.We give B.O.T.T.S and properly set end of term tests.A feedback on students’ performance is regularly done after marking.
(h)The school routine is values-oriented .Fifteen minutes devotion to Faith in God every day;one a-half hours for Fun and Fitness in games every day,a couple of lessons in C.R.E about the Family and Friends;a couple of lessons in Business studies concerning Finance.
Students perform well when they understand what is expected of them.Good routines produce good lessons.
(i)There is a lot of commitment and support from parents.
(j)There is prompt pay from the Top Management:Government,P.T.A and the Board .
(k)Our motto Gakayali Mabaga.So little done ,so much to do.Every year we receive new students with new challenges and new demands and we always begin afresh.So there should not be room for complacency.Every year we begin building the character of many an upcoming Budonian.

9. APPRECIATION
We wish to take this opportunity to express our sincere appreciation to the teachers for planning the lessons.As the chief implementers of the various school programmes they have been supervising the tests and examinations.They have instructed many a Budonian in form periods,during the games and club activities.They have marked,written reports.They have provided counseling.They have been encouraging and empowering many a Budonian through their positive comments.Ideas are born and they grow and spread because of the work they do.Thanks indeed.
To the current students ,your good discipline and resiliency to keep working hard and cooperating with the teachers has kept building the legacy of excellency built over the years.Please keep it up.To those students that passed through Budo and excelled, you left a legacy of a success story.You wrote your success story which is now an inspiration to the upcoming Budonians.Thank you all.

The support staff have done an invaluable job:the time you invest in preparing the meals,the time you invest in maintaing the Quads and school gardens,the smiles we share while on work,the libraries you supervise and the innumerable tests you run;all these are priceless and we can only say A BIG THANK YOU to you all.
GAKYALI MABAGA

By KANYEREZI ERISAM
DIRECTOR OF STUDIES( 12th November, 2008)