In the last issue of >>The Link, we featured the Teachers Making a Difference programme in Uganda, which recognises innovative and inspiring teachers, and which is sponsored by the  Embassy of Ireland in Kampala.

On January 27, 2018, the top five teachers, together with a journalist from New Vision and the Irish Aid Education Advisor, were flagged off for the week-long visit to Ireland.

While in Ireland, the teachers met with Minister of Education and Skills, Richard Bruton, Irish Aid Director General, Ruairí de Burca, Irish Ambassador to Uganda, Finbar O’Brien, together with staff of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The teachers also interacted with their Irish counterparts at Froebel Primary Teacher Education College, Maynooth University, St. Patrick’s Boys School and Trinity Comprehensive Ballymun School. In the different institutions, the visiting teachers learnt about the importance of teacher training in Ireland and the motivations and challenges of teachers. They also witnessed and experienced the application of practical interactive and child centred teaching.

It wasn’t all work as the teachers also had a chance to visit different tourist sites around Dublin including the National Gallery, Leinster House, St Stephen’s Green and the famous Ha’Penny Bridge.

During the feedback session at the end of the visit, Martin Kananura, a teacher from Mbarara district said, “Since I was in constant communication with my colleagues back home throughout the visit and sharing what I was learning with them, they said that, it wasn’t only me that benefited from the visit but the school teaching staff as a whole.”

This is an edited version of the original article available on the Embassy of Ireland, Uganda website.