The challenges of education in a school for refugees

Atukunda Samuel

Samuel is a Head Teacher at a refugee secondary school in Uganda. His school serves nearly 2,000 students from multiple countries, including Congo, Somalia, and South Sudan. They struggle to involve parents, and many students are absent or drop out due to financial hardship. Scholarships from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees help, but funding gaps leave many unable to pay fees. Language barriers and differences in curricula between countries also cause difficulties for new arrivals. The quality of the teaching is negatively impacted by overcrowded classrooms and insufficient instructional materials. Teachers are also underpaid compared to government salaries. But Samuel also sees strengths in the community.

Listen to Samuel

“In the school setup, for students and teachers to perform well, the parental involvement is always key.”

Atukunda Samuel

Atukunda Samuel

Atukunda Samuel is a Ugandan educator currently serving as Head Teacher at Nakivale Secondary School, located in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Education as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology. He is currently pursuing a Master’s in Educational Management, Planning, and Administration.