Blessed Parents Vocational Secondary School ICT Club Launch Rukungiri

In a truly significant step towards building digital capacity among its students, Blessed Parents Vocational Secondary School in Rukungiri District successfully hosted an ICT Club launch and training session on Thursday, June 5, 2025. This pivotal event was expertly facilitated by KAWA Uganda in close collaboration with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), forming an integral part of the national ICT Clubs Initiative specifically aimed at equipping secondary school learners with essential 21st-century skills. The training took place within the school’s well-equipped ICT Laboratory, drawing the enthusiastic participation of 30 students and 5 teachers, all eager to explore the dynamic world of technology. The remarkable diversity in attendance, encompassing both highly enthusiastic students and deeply supportive teachers, rendered the event both vibrant and profoundly impactful.

The training session was expertly led by Ms. Edith Kugonza, a highly skilled ICT trainer with KAWA Uganda, who guided participants through a series of engaging and practical hands-on modules. The core focus of the training encompassed key areas such as Mobile App Development using MIT App Inventor, an insightful Introduction to Coding with Visual Studio Code, and the foundational principles of Basic Robotics. Participants also had the opportunity to explore KAWA Connect, an innovative offline learning device preloaded with rich and diverse educational content. Two standout students, Tracy and Cleophas, not only engaged deeply in the learning process but also remarkably succeeded in developing and rigorously testing their own functional mobile applications during the training. Their exceptional creativity and evident problem-solving skills greatly impressed both the facilitators and their peers, vividly demonstrating the transformative power of early digital exposure. Beyond the primary student training, Ms. Kugonza also conducted a special orientation session specifically for the teachers. During this session, she introduced them to the capabilities of the KAWA Connect device, highlighting its comprehensive suite of curated O-Level content, interactive simulations, educational eBooks, and other valuable digital resources meticulously tailored for Ugandan schools. The teachers expressed significant interest and unanimously agreed on the immense value of acquiring a unit for their school to bolster their teaching methodologies and enhance student learning experiences.

Despite the overall success and positive reception, the training session did encounter a few logistical setbacks that posed minor challenges. Heavy rainfall unfortunately disrupted transport logistics, limiting the ease of access for some participants and materials. Additionally, an unstable power supply intermittently affected the smooth flow of the practical sessions, requiring adaptability from both facilitators and learners. Furthermore, the long distances between participating schools posed coordination challenges for the wider regional rollout of similar initiatives. However, the feedback received from attendees was overwhelmingly positive. Tracy, a Senior Three student, expressed her astonishment and excitement, stating, “I never knew I could build a real app in one day. I’m excited to continue learning ICT!” Similarly, Mr. Nuwagaba Nobert, the Headteacher, remarked, “This training is what our learners needed to compete in the modern world.” A participating teacher also lauded the initiative, commenting, “We appreciate the KAWA Connect device. It will be a game-changer in delivering content even without internet.”

In conclusion, the ICT Club at Blessed Parents Vocational SSS is now officially active and exceptionally well-equipped with a highly motivated core team of learners and teachers. With the promise of continued mentorship, sustained access to vital digital tools, and the full integration of the KAWA Connect platform, the school is firmly on a path to becoming a dynamic hub for digital innovation and ICT skills development within Rukungiri District. The steadfast commitment by UCC and KAWA Uganda to provide ongoing support unequivocally underscores a bright future for ICT education across both rural and urban schools in Uganda. With their curiosity thoroughly sparked and essential tools now firmly in hand, the students of Blessed Parents Vocational SSS are demonstrably ready to code, create, and confidently compete in the ever-evolving digital landscape.