Introduction. Of Virtual Learn In Uganda3

Virtual Learn System has been running in a number of schools in Uganda. It was intended to improve on the pedagogical aspects which would ultimately enhance learner performance by encouraging learner-centred approaches that are desired in the 21st century. The schools include; St Mary’s College Kisubi, Mt St Mary’s College Namagunga, Nabisunsa Girls, Ndejje Secondary School and Seeta Hill S.S.

National Social Security Fund (NSSF)was impressed by the initiative and as part of their Cooperate Social Responsibility, is now funding 11 rural government-aided secondary schools in Uganda, namely: Kagamba SS – Ntungamo; Mpumudde Seed Sec Sch – Jinja; Atutur Sec School – Kumi; Atapara Sec Sch – Oyam; St Charles Lwanga Sec School – Masaka; Kyenjojo Sec School – Kyenjojo, Paicho Seed School – Gulu, Muni Girls – Arua, Sir Tito S. S. – Masindi, Nabumali High School and Nabumali SS –Mbale. In the second phase, NSSF is funding: St Paul S.S Nasuti – Iganga, St Paul S.S – Bukinda, St Joseph Ombachi – Arua, Sironko S.S, Serere S.S, St Catherine S.S, Sacred Hearts S.S - Gulu, Mpanga S.S - Fort Portal, Masindi S.S, and Maryhill High School - Mbarara.

Feedback from some of the schools using Virtual Learn indicates that:

Most parents from the independent user platform confess that their children are more focused than usual and they get access to information which they may have been missed by their teachers. Parents in schools which have signed up to the system are very supportive, because their children are more focused on learning the material on the tablets. Students in more than 15 different schools have signed up to use the system on their own despite their schools not being on board.

These learners are using the tablets when they are at home. The improvement in performance in schools is evidenced by the verbatim comments made by the head teachers, teachers and learners in some of the selected schools that participated in the pilot.