AVSI Foundation-UNHCR partnership supports Palabek Secondary School

AVSI Foundation-UNHCR partnership supports Palabek Secondary School Palabek Senior Secondary School, Lamwo District | March 23, 2018

Background: To ensure that a population receives optimal access to education, AVSI Foundation, with funding from UNHCR is supporting education activities in Palabek Refugee Settlement, targeting refugees and the host community.

AVSI’s effort to promote science education and facilitate peaceful co-existence in the refugee and host community, in line with the RE-HOPE strategy initiated collaboration between Palabek and Ogili Secondary Schools. Ogili Secondary School has a total of 763 students (307 refugees, 393 Ugandans), constituting 46% of the total population of children in the secondary education age bracket. The twining arrangement is providing access to science laboratory facilities to senior three students of Palabek Secondary School in preparation for their national level examinations.

Furniture handover: In the ceremony officiated by Hon. Hilary Onek, Minister for Relief & Disaster Preparedness as Chief Guest, school furniture: 100 pieces of sitting stools and 100 locker desks were handed over to Palabek Secondary School, to enhance practical learning and exams sessions.

The Inspector of Schools, school Board of Governors, Settlement Commandant, Lamwo District Councilors, parents and student also participated in the handover ceremony.

Speech highlights of Hon. Hilary Onek: • Thanked AVSI Foundation for the furniture support to Palabek Secondary School in the frame work of UNHCR strategy of Re-hope.

• Urged partners to continue supporting the people of northern Uganda.

• Encourged continuous development and peaceful co-existence among people.

• Gave word of caution to teachers on education ethics and absenteeism, and urged students to stay in school and work hard in their education.

• Emphasised the need for supervision of schools to promote school enrolment, and to adopt the use of approved teaching and learning aids.