THE EDUCATION PROGRAMME:

This programme has three main objectives namely:

First, to promote improvement of quality of both learning and teaching in the educational system through ICT on-line education within Teso sub-region, where quality of education has perpetually been declining.  This will be done through the provision of Educational Resource Centres equipped with: a) ICT-centres with computers and Internet for both computer & ICT skills training for teachers, students and community members; b) A Reference Library stocked with up-to-date current reading materials, scholastic text & reference books, and c) Secretarial services, stationery materials and facilities lacking in rural areas for both students and teachers 

Secondly, to provide vocational training through non-formal education programme to help primarily the masses Youth among who are school dropouts, the abused especially girls and those whose economic status denies them entry into formal educational levels. Skills offered will be primarily for employment, home and personal development. This will significantly contribute towards curbing Youth massive unemployment, which often adds to juvenile crime problems, which is now a scourge in Teso sub-region and means a bleak future for the communities.   

Thirdly, to support rural communities in provision of Early Childhood Education by setting up early childhood learning facilities (i.e. Day-care Centres and Nurseries) within rural areas.  This is an area, which has not received any attention in both the National and Private Education plans in the country for the rural areas. Rural Children never have any Nursery or Pre-school Education yet in the national Examinations they have to compete with those children in affluent urban centres who have Pre-school education, which is automatic in those areas.

Current Projects:          

There are three main projects, the first is a School-based ICT-centre set up in 2005 in partnership with Ngora High School, one of the High Schools in the area of our operation. The objective is to offer training to teachers, students as well as the surrounding schools and community population. At the moment its services only cover the School teachers and students of this particular High School and is also used by government for training teachers from Northern and Eastern Secondary Schools during School Holidays. The problem is inadequate space and equipment.

The Second project is Vocational Training, which started in 2006 to offer skills for the desperate Youth most of who drop out of formal education for inability to pay the costs mainly due to the severe poverty afflicting rural communities. In addition rural children tend to perform poorly academically due to stunted growth for most of them caused by poor feeding and other effects of poverty. This has proved to be a service that reaches both those capable academically as well as those good only in practical skills. It is, welcomed by both surrounding and far off communities and has the highest demand simply because it gives immediate benefits for those who complete the training.

FADO-T is running this Training in an Institution belonging to the local Anglican Church, Bishop Kitching Christian Vocational Institute. Currently the technical courses planned with only about half offered include: Carpentry & Joinery; Tailoring & Garment Cutting; Home Economics & Hotel Management; Block-laying & Concrete Practice; Secretarial & Computer Skills; Metal Work; Motor Vehicle & Bicycle Mechanics; Plumbing; Electrical Installation; Leather, Craft, Art & Design; and Courses designed to give business skills like Entrepreneurship, Bookkeeping etc.   

These courses are, offered at two levels one level offers courses for learning or improvement of trade skills for direct application with no entry requirements or examination. The other level offers courses at Craft and Certificate, which require entry qualifications and are examinable by the National Examination Board for Certification.

The third project in Education Programme includes 3 Community Nursery Schools for Early Childhood Education initiated by communities and supported by FADO-T, which started in 2007. As already indicated, Education performance of Children from rural areas is very poor and can partly be, blamed on lack of pre-school education, which is a normal feature in urban centres. There is a plan to increase the number to five more by the year 2010.