Gender-Based violence (GBV) remains widespread even in schools and has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. A UN Women study shows that globally, 1 in 2 women reported that they or a woman they know has experienced violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. In Uganda, a national Police Crime report (2020) reveals that 8065 cases of violence and 223 cases of aggravated domestic violence leading to death were reported. These numbers do not reflect other types of violence that women and girls have faced during the COVID-19 period which calls for more efforts to end gender-based violence.  

On Friday 17th December 2021, the National Teachers’ Colleges (NTCs) in Uganda joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (GBV) under the theme “Orange the World: End violence against women now!” at an event in NTC Mubende.

During the event, there was a demonstration of how the Teacher Training Education (TTE) project is creating safe learning spaces in the NTCs through the constructed facilities. As part of Enabel’s contribution to ending GBV and creating safe learning spaces in the NTCs, the TTE project shared actions on GBV in the teachers’ colleges such as the awareness-raising campaign, ‘Speak Out Your Feelito’ that is being implemented by Mbarara University of Science and Technology and, Gent University through a partnership grant. This is in line with the implementation of the recommendations to reduce GBV in the NTCs as detailed in the GBV Study report of 2019. 

Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu, State Minister for Primary Education in Uganda acknowledged Enabel for playing a crucial role in improving secondary teacher education in Uganda and re-echoed the Ministry of Education and sports’ (MoES) commitment to create a safe learning environment in the colleges. She said that education is a human right that should be enjoyed by everyone and that through a gender approach, types of online violence such as cyber-bullying and exploitation which have resulted from the emerging hybrid education have been managed.

Additionally, the State Minister for Primary Education and Mr. Koen Van Acoleyen, Deputy Head of Mission for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Uganda:

• Commissioned the newly constructed and renovated facilities at NTC Mubende; 
• Launched the Climate Responsive Design website and online course through which climate responsive design experts can share their knowledge with the public about climate responsive design and; 
• Launched the Guidelines for Student and Staff Accommodation to promote staff and student safety on campus.

Among the facilities handed over to the NTC Mubende were: a newly constructed and furnished Resource Centre, Multipurpose Hall, Early Childhood Development Centre, Girls’ dormitory ablution block, dispensary and Guild office. All these facilities were designed and successfully constructed under the principals of climate- responsive design. 

Speaking at the event, Mr. Koen Van Acoleyen highlighted the partnership between Enabel and the Ministry of Education and Sports as one that ably demonstrates the possibility to integrate concerns on climate and environment into the construction of education institutions.  Hon. Dr. Joyce Moriku Kaducu added that the infrastructure that was commissioned and handed over to NTC Mubende and other educational institutions is a manifestation of the commitment of the Ugandan government towards achieving quality education.

The Guidelines for Student and Staff Accommodation, were designed with the joint effort of various stakeholders and partners such as the NTCs staff, the Construction Management Unit (CMU), the Teacher Education Training & Development department of the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) and the Directorate of Education Standards. These were designed to promote proper use of accommodation facilities and enable planners to design student accommodation and staff housing ensuring adequate safety, security and wellbeing of students, staff and their property.

The TTE project will disseminate these guidelines to all the five NTCs in Uganda, partner entities, and key experts in a series of dissemination events throughout the year 2022.

For more information about the:   Constructed and improved facilities in the NTCs: https://bit.ly/3qS20xQ Guidelines for accommodation in the NTCs : https://bit.ly/3nV3JRj