STIA officer interacts with students of Kyemamba Seed Secondary School in Lyantonde District about their rights and responsibilities.
While child protection policies exist and children’s rights are well-defined within Uganda’s education framework, gaps remain in awareness and implementation at school level. Many learners are still unaware of their rights, where to report grievances, or how to seek help when their rights are abused.
To bridge this gap, Science Teaching and Innovations Africa (STIA) Field Officers have spent the past month conducting school visits across multiple districts, engaging both learners and teachers on child protection, safeguarding, and safe-school reporting pathways. The initiative aims to ensure that every student not only understands their rights, but also feels empowered to speak up and access support when needed.
Through School Clubs, students have forged ways of talking about their issues and how to get them solved
During the school engagements, STIA officers facilitated interactive sessions focused on: Children’s rights and responsibilities, Reporting mechanisms for abuse, bullying, and exploitation, Safe referral pathways within schools and communities and Positive discipline and learner-centred safeguarding approaches.
Teachers were also supported with guidance on their roles in promoting safe learning environments, handling child-protection cases, and applying child-friendly approaches in school management.
“A safe school goes beyond having policies on paper. It requires awareness, accountability, and consistent action from both teachers and learners,” said a STIA Field Officer during one of the school visits.
“Children need to know their rights, and adults must be fully equipped to protect and uphold them.”
STIA officer Addressing the Child Protection and Learners’ Safety Club at Kanseera Seed School, Mubende district
STIA officer engages students at Rwamurunga Community SS in Isingiro district
This effort forms part of the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP) being implemented by STIA in partnership with the Luigi Giussani Foundation, under the Ministry of Education and Sports. The initiative focuses on strengthening Sub-Component 2.1: Safety of Children in Schools, with the goal of creating and sustaining safe, inclusive, and supportive school environments for all learners. Through continuous engagement, training, and empowerment, STIA and partners remain committed to ensuring that schools are not only places of learning—but spaces where every child is protected, respected, and able to thrive.
STIA officer engages the Head Teacher and student leader of Kyemamba Seed Secondary School in Lyantonde district on Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
STIA Officer engages senior man and senior woman teachers at Rubondo Secondary School in Isingiro district
Ewiny Paul, Programme Officer in charge of Acholi, takes the Senior Woman and Senior Man Teachers of Paloga Seed Secondary School through a mentorship session on how to enter cases into the case management register
STIA Officer engages teachers at Kakuuto Secondary School in Isingiro District on strengthening child protection in schools, GRM, and club formation
STIA officer meets Club patron and Senior Woman