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Lira, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | KCB Bank Uganda has handed over Personal Protective Gear (PPE) and a sum of sh8.7 million for the procurement of class desks to Ayile Primary School in Lira District as it seeks to improve the learning conditions for children in rural areas.
While handing over the donation, KCB’s Daniel Ayena said that owing to the Ministry of Health guidelines on observing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that include social distancing and wearing of face masks at all times, the bank made this donation to support and improve the education and wellbeing of teachers and learners.
“We are handing over a total of 500 masks for teachers and students, and a sum of sh8.7 million for the procurement of class desks to facilitate Ayile Primary School in maintaining the SOPs required in the fight against COVID-19 as guided by the Ministry of Health as well as Ministry of Education and Sports.”
“We are confident that the masks and desks will foster a culture of social distancing, but also one of minimizing the spread of the micro-organism that results from coughing and sneezing by an infected student or teacher, thereby enabling our pupils have a healthy & safe education,” Ayena explained.
Speaking on behalf of Diana Komukama Ssempebwa, the Marketing and Communications Manager, KCB Bank Uganda, Ayena added that, “While education provides many intellectual and financial benefits to society, schools also serve as a place where children develop mentally, physically, and socially, hence the need to ensure that they are accorded an environment that fosters this development.”
A November, 2020 report by the Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER), on the impact of COVID-19 on the continuity of education especially for children from impoverished backgrounds indicated that all school administrators interviewed doubted that their schools would be able to meet the SOP-stipulated ‘social distancing’ once all classes resumed learning, which they attributed to inadequate infrastructure.
Consequently, the donation by KCB Bank Uganda comes in handy in fostering a conducive learning environment for both teachers and learners.
Owiny Musa, the Head Teacher at Ayile Primary School noted that innovative solutions are needed to support the education sector and ensure the continuity of education for learners especially those in rural areas since COVID-19 is still here.
Owiny observed that, “There is a noticeable gap in the completion of school between children in rural and those in urban areas, as those in urban areas have more access to technology and the internet, our children here aren’t as equipped. We only rely on what we have available, which is for children to physically attend school if they are to acquire learning.”
“KCB Bank Uganda’s donation is therefore far-reaching in providing equal opportunities for the rural population,” he remarked stating that, “The Ugandan population is largely young, and supporting children in turn builds potential for human capital and enhanced economic growth in the future.”
“We are very grateful to KCB for this pragmatic gesture and are now more than ever, equipped to do our best to ensure that we help our children achieve their dreams,” Owiny concluded.
KCB are a financial service provider that focuses on providing innovative banking solutions in Uganda.
KCB Bank Uganda, through its KCB Foundation carries out CSR annually under its 5 pillars that are Health, Education, Environment, Humanitarian and Twekozese. This is designed to respond to huge unmet needs of different communities in the achievement of long-term and persistent business values and help disadvantaged people of the country at large.
Every year, the bank seeks to impact the lives of the communities it operates in and this year, KCB Bank Uganda put emphasis on health and education of children as key factors for community development.
