Thursday 14th April 2023. Luwero Uganda – PEAS Horizon High School in Luwero District has received a new fully equipped three-classroom block worth Shs 202 million courtesy of MTN Uganda.
The school located in Bombo Kalule, off Luwero Bombo Road, has 178 students.
The project was funded by MTN Uganda’s corporate social responsibility arm, MTN Foundation, and implemented through Promoting Equality in African Schools (PEAS), a non-government organisation dedicated to improving access to quality education countrywide.
Speaking during the classroom handover ceremony on April 13, MTN Foundation Senior Manager, Bryan Mbasa said the company’s bold step to invest in the school’s facilities is in fulfilment of its corporate social responsibility geared towards boosting students’ access to high-quality education.
“We therefore strongly believe that with this new three-classroom block fully equipped with furniture and a water tank, the school will expand access to 180 new learners, facilitate better instruction, improve student outcomes, and reduces dropout rates, among other benefits,” he said.
Mbasa said education and especially secondary school education is one of the most important phases of every student’s life.
“Secondary school education has proved to help empower young boys and girls, provide a foundation for our young people, reduce infant mortality rates and elevate their economic status,” he said, adding that it is prudent that every child access secondary education irrespective of their social status, their gender or social-economic background.
This comes as United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) statistics indicated last year that one in 10 children in Uganda did not report back to school while National Planning Authority (NPA), estimated in 2021 that up to 30% of children were likely to drop out due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.
PEAS Horizon High School Principal, Steven Kavuma thanked MTN Uganda for the contribution that will make a difference in the students learning.
Over the years, MTN Uganda in partnership with PEAS has implemented various infrastructural projects in various educational institutions across Uganda such as constructing classroom blocks and sanitary facilities at Kichwamba PEAS School in Kabarole District, Noble PEAS High School and Aspire PEAS School in Ibanda District which has positively impacted thousands of students in the Western region.
The company has also constructed classroom blocks and staff quarters for Bigodi Secondary School in Kibale District and Rwengobe Primary School in Kamwenge District respectively in the same region.
MTN Uganda has supported more than 42 ICT labs in various educational institutions including six in technical institutes such as Amelo Technical Institute located in Adjuman District, St. Simon Peter’s Vocational Training Centre in Hoima District, and St. Daniel Comboni Polytechnic in Moroto District.
MTN Uganda is a leading telecoms company in Uganda with a primary objective of carrying on the business of a national operator of a telecommunications network pursuant to the National Telecommunications Operator (NTO) licence granted by the Uganda Telecommunications Commission (UCC). Among our offerings are network services, digital and financial technology services, interconnect and roaming, sale of mobile devices and MTN Mobile Money (which is conducted through subsidiary MTN Mobile Money Uganda Limited). MTN has a presence in all 134 districts of Uganda. Services are delivered through a network of over 173,415 Mobile Money agents, 200 service stores and 13 main distributors. For the period ended 31 December 2022, MTN Uganda had 17.2 million subscribers, 11 million MoMo users and 6.7 million active data users.
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator with a clear vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to our 240 million customers in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. We are inspired by our belief that everyone deserves the benefits of modern connected life. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code “MTN”. We are pursuing our Ambition 2021 strategy with a major focus on growth in data, fintech, and digital businesses.