Kole | The chicken-raising program has benefited over 620 students at Skyland High Senior Secondary School in the Kole district, instilling a sense of responsibility in them.
On Thursday, September 12, 2024, the school’s managing director, Moses Okello Okaka, informed journalists that the poultry project was launched to provide students with hands-on learning experiences, allowing them to grasp practical applications of their classroom knowledge.
Okello continued, “Skyland High School has continuously achieved excellent results in both “O” and “A” Level examinations for more than 17 years, and he attributes this success to the discipline of both teachers and students.”
“This school project is currently equipping our students with vital life skills such as responsibility, empathy, and problem-solving. We aim to educate students in both academic and domestic settings for their overall development, which is why we have introduced livestock such as chickens, turkeys, and sheep.
“I initiated the poultry project in 2019 with an initial stock of over 450 birds. However, many unfortunately perished. After gaining experience, I adopted a new strategy, and we now have over 1,200 chickens and 80 sheep,” he added.
According to headteacher David Opio Yung, students consume more than 80 of the 1,200 birds per month, resulting in a monthly expenditure of around 240 birds.
Opio emphasised that these projects benefit the school’s development by reducing reliance on parental contributions.
Last year, the school received 16 first-grade and 27 second-grade results. He assured parents that the school aims to produce many first-grade candidates from the 74 students enrolled for the 2024 examinations.
Skyland High School is located in Agege, Bala, in the Kole district, and covers more than 70 acres of land.
“And I think this is the only school in northern Uganda that feeds their students with chicken,” Okaka said.
Gladys Acan, the school’s head girl, thanked the school administration for allowing poultry keeping to continue on campus.
She said that as a Senior One student, she has learnt important lessons that will support her goals once her education is over.
Umar Anyok, the head boy, spoke about the experiences that all students have gained through activities such as bird keeping.
He noted that Skyland High School students are well-trained and disciplined.
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