JPSS Teachers . . . Degreed. Dedicated. Disciplined.

What makes a qualified teacher?  Subject knowledge confirmed by certification or degree; discipline to always be prepared; and personal skills.  What makes a great teacher?  Add:  trust and integrity; the ability to mentor; the capability to see potential and engage it; a positive attitude; a respectful and approachable manner and the ability to uplift the image of the school.  

That is a tall order . . . but one which the teachers of John Paul Secondary School easily fill.  

With just a few exceptions, the thirty teachers of John Paul Secondary School are degreed.   They must be degreed in order to teach both O (S1-4) and A (S5-6) Levels – a broad curriculum running from the sciences (Biology, Chemistry, Physics) to English/Literature, Fine Arts, Mathematics, Religion and Languages.  

The staff admits that it is difficult to recruit to a remote area like Chelekura.  New, modern teacher housing helps.  But they feel the best recruitment tool is the reputation of the school itself. 

Headmaster Moses Bwayo joined JPSS in 2017.  A graduate from Christian University, he is registered by the Ministry of Education.  Along with his responsibility as Headmaster, Mr. Bwayo teaches Commerce and Economics.  “The teachers at John Paul Secondary School are so effective because of their special mentoring of students that has enabled us not only to produce academicians but all-round citizens who are the light of the world”, said Mr. Bwayo.

Many JPSS teachers reside on campus.  Those who don’t are given bicycles to help them manage the distance to and from work each day.   When the school was closed for Covid-19, eight teachers stayed on campus to work on the syllabus and enhance their course knowledge as well as provide class work to those students who have access to internet service.  Recently, the Friends of John Paul School Board voted unanimously to pay the salaries for all teachers during the period when the school was closed.  “Our teachers care about their students . . . this is simply the right thing to do.”