Update by Devine Matare.

Last week, our Project Staff visited 3 schools that have just recently began evening study sessions using the solar powered lights that were installed by the Sukulu Yowala project that is being implemented by IRRI & RENAMA with funding from the Scottish Government.

All 3 schools are using different approaches to the evening study sessions adapted to their local settings and circumstances. It will be interesting to see which approach will work best and the project team will facilitate the cross learning of best practice and ideas is exchanged between the 5 schools. In Chamasowa Primary School, they have arranged focus study weekends where students in Standard 7 & 8 classes come and spend the whole weekend at the school studying well into the evening up to 10pm under close supervision of their teachers and guardians. In Mphedzu Primary School, they decided to pilot a 2 week boarding session for standard 8 students, who are spending the full 2 weeks at school, attending normal day lessons and then focussed study sessions at night from 630pm up to 9pm. The 3 rd School is Ntundama Primary, there have opened up their classes to all students to come and do homework and study as and when they feel depending on their circumstances. So far students from Standard 5 to 8 who stay close to the school are using the lights to read and do homework up to 9pm in the evening. Interestingly, even some students from a nearby secondary school have requested to come and study at the school as well.

Going forward, the project staff will continue to monitor the progress of the evening study sessions and facilitate the successful and sustainable usage of the solar lights. The other 2 schools are at an advanced stage of introducing evening study sessions and we will keep you updated when this has begun.

You can read more about this project under the field projects section and you can also see some pictures from the Schools in our media gallery.

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