Uganda: BATU Constructs Shs1 Billion Vocational Institute

Source from:  The Monitor 07/08/2009

Kampala - British American Tobacco Uganda has constructed a $500,000 (about Shs1 billion) vocational school in Masindi District that will offer practical courses like agriculture, carpentry, joinery, tailoring, brick laying, computer skills and financial management. "Through the foundation in charge of Elimination of Child Labour in Tobacco (where BATU is a founder member), we have successfully completed the construction of all the vocational school facilities, which currently occupy over seven acres," the Corporate Affairs Manager of BAT Uganda, Cathy Adengo said in a press statement issued by BATU last week. Mr Steven Birijja, the Masindi District chairman, said the facility will offer an opportunity for children in the area to learn practical skills they can readily apply in the future. The vocational school will focus on taking children who are engaged in tobacco farms and older teenagers who may not be able to join formal primary schools. The BATU foundation ischarged with the elimination of child labour in tobacco, sensitisation of parents and local leaders about the need to eliminate child labour and give children an opportunity to attain education. This year, the school has enrolled up-to 112 students training in carpentry, bricklaying, tailoring and agricultural practices with 73 boys and 39 girls. An official handing - over ceremony of the school to Masindi Local District will be held in October. The Ministry of Education, Gender and Labour and Social Development, Masindi District, International Labour Organisation, Federation of Uganda Employers, among others were also partners in the development of the vocational institute. Courses like computer skills, agriculture and financial management are compulsory for all the students in the school. Enditem