ABOVE PHOTO: Esteem Junior School’s Director Mrs. Estella Mundeyi listening to Headteacher Mr. Moses Ndibammwe Ntale during a Thanks Giving Mass at School, last Saturday
OPINION BY:
MOSES MUGALULA,
JOURNALIST
ON SATURDAY February 8, 2025, Esteem Junior School, the fastest growing Kindergarten and Primary School located 9 miles on Mityana road, organised a Thanks Giving Mass at the school campus to thank God for enabling their 2024, P7 candidates, top the list of best performing Schools in Wakiso District.
PHOTO: Some of the buildings at ESJ
A day before, i got a call from my namesake, Mr. Moses Ndibammwe Ntale, the School’s Headteacher, in three categories; One as a Parent, a friend to the school and as a journalist.
AUTHOR: Mr. Moses Mugalula (photo)
The function started with a Mass celebrated by Rev. Fr. Godfrey Kato Ssemwogerere, the Parish Priest of Kamwokya Parish who stood in for Rev. Fr. Ssemboga, the Buloba Parish Priest.
PHOTO: EJS Director Estella Mundeyi (extreme right) listening to Rev. Fr. Kato Ssemwogerere (left)
Speeches included that of Ms. Sharom Nakatudde who represented parents, that of the Headteacher and a moving Speech from the school founder Mrs. Estella Mundeyi. In my next article, I will write about Mrs. Mundeyi’s speech and why every parent and learner must borrow a leaf from her wise counsel.
HUMILITY: Bursar Eddie serving pupils!
While meals were being served, Headteacher Ntale came to share a word with me and another Parent, Mr. Duncan Ssebbaale (Chairman Men of Purpose at Good News Church). He asked me to get a microphone and say something to the parents which i politely declined with the excuse that i would give my communication at the right time.
PHOTO: Headteacher Mr. Ntale addressing parents. His is flanked by his deputy
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the right time and the best fora, to say something.
Mr. Ntale and my fellow hustlers out there, our education system, has wired parents and students alike to only attention to passing exams. Parents will strive and do all it takes to rather ensure their children merely pass, than accumulation of skills, knowledge and influence of entrepreneurship.
PHOTO: Parents listening attentively
Our focus as parents should be to task more of the former than the later. Our children’s future world needs not those who have merely passed exams, but those skilled and with a deep weight of entrepreneurship vices.
To all P7 and S4 candidates who achieved a mark of success country over, congratulations. To all the parents, guardians and caretakers, thanks for the work well done.
PHOTO: Some members of P7 class of 2024 entertaining parents and their teachers
To the students, your first grade or second grade alone, is not the end and the cardinal key to success. It’s just a chance and piece of evidence, that you have capacity to pursue more yields, ahead, if you only keep going stronger and work harder.
To the candidates who didn’t perform to their expectations, this is not the end of life, your worries are temporally. We have all failed in many instances. But we pick ourselves up and try again.
PHOTO: Some members of P7 Class, 2024
There’s no man whose failure determines his or her fate. What’s so important, is the capability to pick your self up when failure strikes. If you have not failed in something, then you have never tried something. There’s so much room to make life better. With the support of your parents, friends, relatives and guardians, just know life still has room for a better platform for you. Don’t lose hope, don’t give up. Yes, we have been there we are this side of life. We know what the reality is in between there.
From zero, we hustle, we struggle we rebuild, well knowing that by success we mean the art of not giving up, even when the hope is gone.
Passing PLE, UCE or UACE is not the sole and lone pursuit you are geared for. It’s a piece of evidence that when you work hard, and remain forcused you can achieve more. This is just a platform to prepare you for yet another stage. Keep going. By God’s counsel you will sail through. Life ain’t about marks its about passion towards a certain goal.
I want to thank those parents, guardians and helpers who played their roles in paying school fees, attending school meetings, buying text books and other scholastic materials and doing all that you had to do to ensure that your daughter or son, attains a decent piece of education. Thank you.
I do thank single mothers in a special way. Especially those ladies who tried as much as possible to reach out to the fathers of those children, reminding them to play their roles but still were hesitant. You put your self to order and took your child through the first 10years of education. Thank you.
To all the single fathers who have played their responsibilities, thank you.
To the teachers and headteachers country over. Thanks for the struggle. Some of you, are going through thick and silent sacrifices to see the positive yields of these young learners. With the government rich in promising you much, you have held strong. Please don’t give up.
PHOTO: Headteacher Ntale introducing P7 class teachers of this great Insititution
Finally, parents take care!!!! don’t be cheated and fall victims of extortion because you want a particular school. Investors are all over print media buying space for adverts and calling upon students. Always remember, you are the first head teacher and Director of studies (DOS) to your child.
A school helps to assemble the concepts your child needs but you are the manufacturer. Don’t be cheated don’t have your pressure raise because school this has not taken your child.
Lastly I want to thank those teachers who take their pupils as their personal children. You brave the scorching sun, the muddy roads the heavy traffic jam, the naughty noisy kids, the meagre resources with an avalanche of indifference from the government, when it comes to payment in time and extending facilities on schedule. We are so proud of you teachers, thank you.
ELEGANT: EJS teachers
Through all this, you never tire, to shape a decent mind to these learners. Keep up the spirit.
Till then, my brother, Moses Ndibammwe Ntale, Headteacher Esteem Junior School. Best regards to madam Director Estella Mundeyi and your wonderful teaching and support staff.
The author is TV talkshow host, a radio talkshow panelist, writer and a senior investigative journalist in Uganda. Whatsapp 0701 523 039
