Over 1300 students and teachers from National Teachers College (NTC) Kaliro stand to benefit from the infrastructural renovations and constructions by the Ministry of Education and Sports and Enabel, the development agency of the Belgian government.

Under the Teacher Training Education project, Enabel, formerly known as the Belgian Technical Cooperation seeks to improve institutional and pedagogic development and provide access to quality training and learning facilities in National Teachers Colleges. This has led to infrastructural developments in a number of NTCs across the country with the aim of creating safer learning environments that will improve learning.

The work at NTC Kaliro will focus on the rehabilitation of existing accommodation for both students and staff, construction of new accommodation, sports facilities, an education block and provision of furniture and equipment for the facilities.

This intervention has however not only benefited NTC-Kaliro but also partnering organisations like Makerere University. A recent event at the University saw the Belgian Ambassador H.E Hugo Verbist donate a set of architectural books to school of Built Environment (College of Engineering Design Art and Technology-CEDAT). This was as an appreciation for their participation in the Architectural Students Design project that produced creative designs and blue prints for NTC –Kaliro accommodation improvements. A number of top students with winning ideas and designs also received a prize of one and half semester tuition fees.

The idea of engaging students was intended to involve young minds with creative ideas but also to provide them with the opportunity to develop practical experience and build their abilities in the area of design.

“This activity was very interesting because we could offer our consultants new and creative user-friendly ideas for sustainable accommodations,” Jan Van Lint, head of the Enabel Infrastructure Unit said.

While addressing the students and staff at CEDAT, the Belgian Ambassador; H.E Hugo Verbist noted that the intention of this project was to think out of the box and challenge the current practice of architecture by going beyond aesthetics and creating modern facilities that emphasized the importance of sustainability, energy efficiency and respect for natural environment.

This competition also involved students from Uganda Martyrs University to refurbish existing student’s accommodation at National Teachers College Muni in Arua.

Enabel also supports the education sector in Uganda through teacher training education that focuses on organizational and capacity development of teacher trainees at National Teacher Colleges.