STIA, Luigi Giussani Foundation partner in implementing the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project
Expanding Access to Secondary Education
The Government of Uganda (GoU), through the Ministry of Education and Sports, is implementing the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Project (USEEP) to increase access to lower secondary education. Funded by the World Bank, the project focuses on underserved communities, including refugee-hosting areas, girls, and regions with limited access to public secondary schools.
Science Teaching and Innovations Africa (STIA), in partnership with Luigi Giussani Foundation, is contributing to Component One of the project—expanding lower secondary education. Specifically, STIA supports Sub-component 1.2, which focuses on ensuring the safety and protection of children by promoting the Child-Friendly School (CFS) approach. This initiative fosters safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments that prioritize students’ social, physical, moral, and intellectual well-being.
Photo: Teachers in group discussions at St. Andrew Seed Secondary School, in Soroti District during the GBV and VACiS training
Capacity building: Ministry of Education training
To effectively implement the project, officers from STIA and Luigi Giussani Foundation underwent a three-day intensive training from January 21–23, 2025. The training focused on: Understanding Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children (VAC), Identifying various forms of violence in schools and communities, Assessing the magnitude of GBV and VAC and Reviewing Ministry of Education interventions.
Additionally, participants were trained on the importance of banning corporal punishment, fostering social-emotional skills among students, and creating safe school environments. Equipped with this knowledge, officers are now training teachers, students, and communities to promote emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and responsible decision-making.
Photo: Officers from STIA and Luigi Giussani Foundation receive training from the Ministry of Education
Photo: Officers from STIA and the Luigi Giussani Foundation first underwent a three-day training on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children in Schools (VACiS), among other topics, before they went into the field
Project implementation in schools
Currently, STIA officers are working in 116 schools across 64 districts, training school leaders on: Gender-Based Violence and Violence Against Children in Schools, Grievance Redress Mechanisms, and Creating Safe and Inclusive Learning Environments.
So far, over 100 school leaders have been trained, with a goal of reaching 580 teachers.
Photo: Teachers from St. Andrew Seed Secondary School, Soroti, after undergoing the training
Fostering safer learning environments
The ongoing training sessions under USEEP target headteachers, senior male and female teachers, and school board representatives. The focus is on equipping them with the necessary skills to: Ensure physical, emotional, and academic safety for students, address and prevent sexual violence and exploitation, improve menstrual hygiene management for girls and encourage parental involvement in students’ well-being
By addressing these challenges, STIA and its partners are working towards a safer and more supportive educational environment, ensuring that all students can learn, thrive, and reach their full potential.
Photo: Teachers from Kyemamba Seed Secondary School in Lyantonde District engage in a discussion on Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Violence Against Children in Schools (VACiS)
Photos: Teachers from different schools receiving training on Gender-Based Violence and Violence Against Children in Schools, among other topics.
