St. Joseph Vocational Secondary School ICT Club Launch Mbarara
In a truly significant stride towards integrating digital skills into the school system, St. Joseph Vocational Secondary School in Mbarara hosted a successful ICT Club launch and training session on Thursday, June 11, 2025. This pivotal event was spearheaded by KAWA Uganda in close collaboration with the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), aligning perfectly with Uganda’s Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) to actively promote 21st-century learning.
The event, held at the school’s well-equipped ICT facility, attracted an impressive turnout of 35 students from various class levels. These students actively participated in all sessions, demonstrating remarkable curiosity, palpable confidence, and a deep, genuine interest in leveraging technology to solve real-life problems. Under the expert facilitation of Kyasima Freedom, an experienced trainer from KAWA Uganda, the students were guided through practical, hands-on sessions. The training specifically focused on Mobile App Development using MIT App Inventor, providing exposure to fundamental software development logic, and exploring the real-life applications of ICT in both education and entrepreneurship. Throughout the session, learners were tasked with building basic applications. Many managed to create simple, working prototypes by the end of the session, and remarkably, took the initiative to continue practicing independently, showcasing their immediate engagement and eagerness to learn more.
The facilitation and coordination of the event were managed by Kyasima Freedom from KAWA Uganda. The Headteacher, Mr. Bafaki Christopher, can be contacted at 0782 982446. Although the school’s designated ICT teacher was not present on the day of the training, the school’s leadership demonstrated excellent flexibility by assigning an alternative staff member to assist with coordination. This adaptability ensured the event proceeded smoothly despite the unexpected absence. However, the absence of the official ICT teacher did present some challenges. It meant that certain content had to be adjusted for more accessible delivery, and there was limited real-time guidance on how ICT could be more deeply integrated into the school’s regular academic activities due to the lack of direct involvement from the usual technical staff.
Despite these minor hurdles, student feedback was overwhelmingly positive and highly encouraging. “We never imagined we could create mobile apps ourselves—this experience was empowering!” one student enthusiastically shared, reflecting the profound impact of the practical training. Another student expressed deep gratitude, stating, “Thank you KAWA and UCC for giving us these skills. We’re ready to do more and even join competitions.”
With the successful launch of its ICT Club, St. Joseph Vocational SS now proudly joins the growing list of Ugandan schools that are pioneering technology empowerment for their learners. The 55 participants left the session not only equipped with valuable practical skills but also with a stronger understanding of digital possibilities and a clear commitment to build upon their newfound knowledge. Both KAWA and UCC have pledged to continue offering vital mentorship, essential resources, and exciting competition opportunities to the club. It is confidently expected that the club will grow into a vibrant space for creativity, problem-solving, and dynamic digital innovation. The future of education truly lies in technology, and at St. Joseph Vocational SS, that future has unequivocally begun.
