CLINTON NABIMANYA

THE STUDENTS ARE NOT BLAMEWORTHY. THEIR ENVIRONMENT IS. (Those from villages and local background like myself, might find this more relatable). I was born and raised in Rwenyena Village, Mitima Sub-County- Ssembabule District. (A predominantly Cattle-keeping community). I pursued my foundational education in my village schools, for pre and primary level: I went to Lugusuulu Community Primary School, currently known as St. Charles Model Primary School, in a small village- Rwekishugyi. Thereafter, I joined Bweera Happy Times Primary School, in Mitima. I subsequently joined St. Henry’s College Kitovu (SHACK) for my “O” and “A” Level. HERE IS THE POINT: The two primary schools are both in my local setting, a predominantly Cattle-keeping area, with Runyankore as the primary language. In fact, many of the pupils in these schools were (and still are) Banyankore. The case was usually true for the teachers and, by default, the administration itself. Whereas classes were conducted in a semblance of English, it was quite rare, for a pupil in such a school to be proficient in English. This, unfortunately, has long term implications. I was a victim too, and not an exception to that rule. By the time I did my PLE in 2014, I could hardly construct a reasonable and complete English statement, the fact that I got a First Grade notwithstanding. It is thus my opinion that a Pupil / Student from such an environment can have the capacity to write the English, but yet no ability to eloquently articulate it. In 2015, I joined SHACK and started my “O” Level education. Between S.1 and S.3, I was still the same person, quite good with writing the English, albeit, with limited abilities for fluently and eloquently speaking it. It is towards the end of S.4 that I started having a little confidence, standing before audiences, and speaking some reasonable English, with visible improvement and a little esteem. Let me end this here, for it is Primary and “O” Level that clearly illustrate my intended point. THESE STUDENTS: THE KIRUHURA DISTRICT SCENARIO. The students in the video below, have been victims of public ridicule, over the last couple of days. Reason? English inadequacies!!! Do I justify it? Not. Do I blame them? Absolutely not!! As clearly elucidated with reference to my personal story, these students are victims of their environment. Just like myself in my early school years, they are in a typically Runyankore-speaking community. It is more likely that some of their classes are conducted in a mixture of English and Runyankore. More likely than not, these students have no opportunity to construct any English statements, outside the classroom. The same is true for all their other schoolmates. The same was the case with me back in the days, as I indicated earlier. This being the status quo, it is self evident that such students cannot, all of a sudden, make reasonable English submissions. That is only possible with constant practice, especially for those of us born in local communities. That said, I attribute this to the community and to the prevailing circumstances, not the student himself. I find no reason to ridicule and discredit him. He is a prisoner and captive of his circumstances. WE MIGHT BE MISSING THE MAIN POINT.