Figure 1; Mrs. Elizabeth
Rwamwenge the deputy principal of Canon Apollo
Fifteen months into the implementation of a
project aimed at improving literacy and parent involvement in secondary schools
and PTCs, Canon Apollo has adapted the use of bulk sms for administrative
purposes especially inviting parents for meetings.
According to Mrs. Elizabeth Rwamwenge the
deputy principal of Canon Apollo, most of the parents come from as far as
Busheyi, Mbarara and Kabale among other districts. “We would use circulars yet
many parents cannot read and on many occasions students would not deliver the
circulars”. The college also attempted to use a local radio to reach parents
but the coverage of radio is limited and so the message would not be received.
After a meeting with CfSU/RWECO and Text to
change schools were tasked to collect relevant telephone numbers so as to use
the bulk SMS for communication with different stake holders.
“It is evident that in the past not many
parents would turn up for meetings but with the use of bulk sms platform in
2012/2013, the college received the biggest PTA turn up ever and we are
beginning to see an improvement in parent involvement at the college”
emphasized Mrs Rwamwenge.
This is part of the three year Dutch
Consortium ( Connect for Change) funded project implemented in western Uganda
implemented by CfSU in partnership with RWECO for the period 2012-201