Pioneer High School

Namongo Sub County, Mityana District, Uganda                                                                                Director: Serujja Abubaker, Headteacher: Francis Kiyanja                                                                             Opened Feburary 2011
Students (March 2012): 251

Pioneer High School is the second school funded by the Costa Foundation. The Costa Foundation's mission is to look after coffee growers, so the school is being built in Mityana District in central Uganda, one of the country's major coffee growing areas.

It is a poor area and before PEAS arrived there was not a single secondary school to serve the 15 local primary schools. That means every year, nearly 300 students had nowhere to continue their education. The Mityana District Education Officer, Nammigadde Lovincer, said this on how important Pioneer High School is for the area:

"The high drop-out rate from secondary schools in this area is a real problem for us. It is the girl-child who is affected most badly. The girls from the Namongo area rarely attend secondary school and when they do, they usually don't complete. The distance to the nearest secondary school is too far. The route they travel is demoralising and can be very dangerous. Parents are reluctant to put their girls through this...This new secondary school will make a real difference to the whole community. I am sure that parents will enrol their children. The distance is near, the fees are low and lunch is provided. In an area where most people live below the poverty line, the provision of free lunch cannot be underestimated... We are all truly grateful"

Find out what other community members think of the school here.

Pioneer High School was largely funded by the Costa Foundation, but it still needs some extra help. If you would like to give to the project, please get in touch.