Tales Out Of School: The Interviews
Over the course of the series, we meet a number of people from Masindi. We interviewed five of them to find out how they felt about being filmed and to discuss the issues the programmes touch upon in more depth.
The two headteachers are interviewed "head to head": Aminah Mukasa is head teacher of Masindi Secondary School; she talks about why she allowed a film crew into her school and the challenges she faces with staff retention. In a country where a former pupil will often be earning more than the former teacher, Aminah empathises with teachers leaving for better paid work in politics, something which she talks about considering herself.
At 36, Mr Ntairaho, the headteacher of Kamurasi Demonstration Primary School, discusses the challenges of five appointments in one day with the film crew! He also provides an insight into the challenges widening access to govenment funded education has brought to his school, against a background where teachers struggle to survive financially.
We meet 17 year old Shem Kageye, the new boy in the school and a football hero with a secret girlfriend. While he dreams of football stardom, he considers his possible future of going to university and becoming an engineer.
Harriet Myendwoha talks about her remarkable work as a special needs teacher, her belief in treating all children equally and the need to protect the rights of children with disabilities.
Proscovia Nadaga is a 16 year old Born Again Christian, with a desire to 'save' others. With her parents divorced and her father mentally ill, she talks about her determination to gain her own sense of independence and establish a firm foundation for her future life.
At 34, Mohammed Musoke is head of art and design at the school. He talks frankly about his previous thoughts of 'white' people and how this altered through his filming experiences. He discusses his ambitions for the future and offers his views on the differences between African marriages to those in England.
Content last updated: 24/05/2005
About our interviewer
Abi Newman has specialised in education journalism for the past five years. She writes for The Times Educational Supplement, The Times, The Guardian, The Royal Society of Arts Journal and Conde Nast Traveller. She was formerly assistant editor of Teachers magazine, the Department for Education and Skills publication.
