AKU IED EA STAFF BRAVO!

You are smart, perfect, consistent, effective followers, have common language, on moodle, teacher leaders the way i see things, i need two & a half pages plus my blog followers to describe you adequately. if they fail but one thing colleagues we better learn from these guys and the earlier the better.

Amazing ICT

I am learning alot of new lessons, making reflections, very challenged and acquiring new insights in use of ICT in teaching and learning.

PERSONAL STATEMENT

I am Kirabo Esther, aged 42 (forty two) years old, a citizen of the Republic of Uganda. On completion of my School Certificate, my parents couldn’t take me further in high school, so I studied teacher education for two years from 1991 to 1993,  where I qualified as a Grade III Primary School teacher and acquired a grade three Teachers’ certificate. I took keen interest in Mathematics and specialised in it right from Grade three teachers’ course. I was one of the three students who took up mathematics as a special subject, and above all the only and one female student in that team. It was so exciting that i made it to my expectations when i obtained good grades at that level.

 In craving for more knowledge, skills, methodologies, and approaches, I sponsored myself and pursued a Diploma and a Bachelors’ Degree in Teacher Education from 1998 to 2000 and from 2010 to 2012 respectively at Kyambogo University, specialising in Mathematics where I obtained very good grades. While at Diploma course, i trained using computer for advanced mathematics for example; integration, complex numbers, statistics and probability to mention but a few. This too was very exciting and gave me a lot of confidence and boldness in the subject.

Since I qualified, I have served as a Primary School teacher for 12 (twelve) years and as tutor in   Primary Teachers’ Colleges for the last 10 (ten) years. As a Primary School teacher, I headed Mathematics Department, where I supported other teachers in the preparation of lessons and instructional materials; teaching, in self evaluation and evaluation of learners’ progress.

As a tutor in   Primary Teachers’ Colleges, I was again selected as a Head of Mathematics Department, which entailed more or less the same duties as stipulated in Primary School above. In addition to that, I provide supervisory support to student teachers, organise Mathematics Special Days for exhibitions etc., I serve as a National Examiner for Grade III Teacher’ Certificate, I initiated the a Mathematics Club affiliated to Uganda Mathematics Society  based at Makerere University. I was also part of the team that developed Booklets for the then Female Education in Mathematics and Science in Africa (FEMSA – Uganda) which are a resource to Mathematics and Science Education. Besides, I participated in   writing Primary Mathematics Course Books for MK Publishing Company. Of late, I, with a colleague, have embarked on writing Mathematics text books for both Primary and Teachers’ Colleges based on the current curricula.  

I am therefore convinced that my undergoing and acquiring a Masters Degree in Mathematics will go a long way, not only in development of my profession and/or career, but also contribute to current efforts in my country to improve on Mathematics Education in some following ways:

       It is well known that Mathematics is considered one of the toughest subjects in the school curriculum, yet it is one of the most essential requirements for most professions/careers. However, in the 53 (fifty three) Primary Teachers’ Colleges (PTCs) in Uganda, there is no Mathematics tutor with a Masters Degree. Therefore my further qualification will be an entry point and strategy in bridging the apparent gap.

      Being a teacher educator (tutor) I expect that the exposure I will get, the new knowledge, skills, methodologies, and approaches will, not only concretise my professional performance, but will also have an impact and a multiplier effect on my student teachers and fellow tutors country-wide who, in turn I believe, will impact several learners.

      As mentioned earlier, a colleague and I have embarked on a self-sponsored project of writing Mathematics text books for both Primary and Teachers’ Colleges based on the current curricula. If I master Mathematics, then I will be in a better position to enrich this project to address students’ Mathematics needs in Uganda.

      Given my wealth of 21 (twenty one) years’ experience in teaching Mathematics  both in Primary Schools and Primary Teachers’ Colleges in Uganda; and in addition, findings from the study I did at  both Diploma and Degree level, I  have witnessed and discovered  gender-disparities in  Mathematics learning and achievements. Boys tend to perform better than girls. Among the many causes of this disparity, one of them is that girls have hardly had female role models. Most Mathematics teachers/tutors are male. Once am a well qualified,  I will be a role model for girls/female students as a tutor in college, instructor in refresher courses, facilitator in workshops/seminars,  mentor and supervisor of practicing teachers, to mention but a few.

      As mentioned above, hitherto, I have   sponsored myself for Diploma Teacher Education and Bachelors Degree Teacher Education programmes. If I am considered for sponsorship and qualify with a Masters Degree, it will contribute to my need for self actualisation as in Maslow hierarchy of needs.

On completion of my studies I intend to:

      Utilise the new acquired knowledge, skills, methodologies, and approaches in order to concretise my professional performance and also to cause an impact among my student teachers and colleagues.

      Complete the text books embarked on as mentioned above.

      Facilitate Mathematics Education sessions at Universities that will require my services and expertise.  

Therefore, I will be greatly obliged if am  considered for the award of a scholarship in your University to pursue a Masters Programme, which I am convinced, will make an impact not only in my profession ambitions but also in other tutors’ and student teachers’ professional development and /or improvement in Uganda, God willing.