Pupils of two schools in Bar Sub County, lira district, were filled with excitement as some of their parents turned up at school with gardening tools to participate in the improvement of their play and learning facilities.
These parents, who are mostly peasants, spent most of the day last Wednesday cutting wood and digging holes for the building of swings, seesaws, slides, and roundabouts on the school’s invitation.
These schools which have populations of about 800 and 1000 pupils for Orem and Abunga, respectively, are government-funded schools under the Universal Secondary Education (UPE) that have constrained budgets to run and put up play facilities.
However, studies indicate that pupils who often play have higher chances of scoring good grades because children’s brains grow and increase faster when engaged in play. Playing helps to increase the “neurotrophic factor,” a molecule manufactured in our brain cells that helps neurons grow, survive and form synapses.
The twenty-three (23) parents, thirteen (13) of Orem and ten (10) of Abunga primary schools had turned up to participate in two synchronized activities “Strengthening recreation play centers being funded by Global Fund for Children (GFC); and engaging parents and youth in the production of play learning materials being funded by Grassroots Nest for Innovation and Change (GRIC), and Foundation for Inclusive Community Health (FICH).” both projects implemented by Community Focus International(CFI) in four schools of Oyam and Lira districts.
