Radio Quiz Competition Proves to be a Success at Nakaseke Telecentre

The Radio Quiz Competition is a radio programme which runs on Nakaseke FM. It runs live every Sunday over the community radio (102.9 FM).The radio station is part of Nakaseke Telecentre and because of its relative suitability for rural conditions in relation to other technologies, it has become a significant communication tool for the community covering an estimated radius of 25km. In a rural area with hardly any public telephones or newspapers, announcements are one of the most important forms of broadcast programmes on this community station. The radio also broadcasts programmes on a wide range of issues including health, education, agriculture, environment, gender and entertainment.

According to Ssenabulya James ‘the radio quiz programme came up after the radio had granted free air time to school teachers and other parties involved in education’.

James who is an IT instructor at the telecentres added that ‘the teachers, together with the Radio staff resolved to start a competition for primary schools after realizing that there was a problem of constant poor performance of schools in final exams (P.L.E)’.

‘Two pupils from each school (at least 3 schools at a time) are hosted in the studios and panels of examiners (these are chosen from the teachers themselves) give them questions to answer and the winning schools advance to a next round. The process continues up to the finals’.

‘Schools are usually awarded accordingly depending on the prizes secured, these given by listeners (parents) of good heart and some local leaders. The Nakaseke Radio has also provided a trophy for the wining school.’

Since establishment in 2006, the competition aims at;
 Promoting confidence among the learners.
 Uplifting the academic standards in Nakaseke district and Uganda at large.
 Enabling teachers from government and private schools share views and ideas related to performance uplifting.
 Enabling teachers to evaluate their teaching
 Promoting competition among the learners
 Exposing the pupils to the outside environment other than the class and school only.

Through this program, a series of successes have been registered;
 Pupils who participate in this program always pass with flying colors; now for three years since establishment, the involved pupils have scored 1st and second grades.
 Confidence among learners has been developed
 Reading and listening skills have been promoted among the learners
 Free computer training to pupils who participate in the final competitions every year provided by Nakaseke Telecentre.

Nakaseke Community Multimedia Centre is located at Nakaseke sub-county headquarters, Nakaseke district about 75 km north of Kampala. The CMC was established in 1997 as part of the series of a pilot initiative to introduce, test, disseminate and assess the impact and viability of CMCs in Africa. Within its area of coverage the telecentre serves both Nakaseke and Kasangombe local administrations, Luweero district administration, Nakaseke Teacher Training College, the core primary cluster center, local school, the business community in Nakaseke and Kasangombe and local women’s groups and farmers.