Joyce Moriko Kaducu the State Minister for Primary Education together with Diana Ondoga and the Head of Stanbic Bank Education
HABARI DAILY I Kampala, Uganda I Stanbic Bank has unleashed the 10th season of the National Schools Championship (NSC) with prizes worth Shs150 million to be won by participating education institutions.
With nearly 75% of the population under 30 years of age and 11 million students enrolled in formal education, the NSC aims to equip students with essential skills for the future success of their personal development.
Officials disclosed that this initiative tackles the skills gap by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among Ugandan youth in secondary and vocational schools.
According to Cathy Adengo, Stanbic Bank’s Head of Sustainability, the forthcoming edition will be held under the theme “Powering Innovation for Job Creators.
She henceforth made the call for applications from secondary schools and tertiary institutions which will this year be competing for top prizes worth Shs150 million.
“The NSC this year is bent on empowering students and teachers to become forward-thinking entrepreneurs and innovators. This aligns with the government’s National Development Plan and the newly implemented competence-based curriculum,” she said recently during the unveiling ceremony.
Sam Mwogeza, the Stanbic Bank Executive Director hands over a dummy cheque to St Josephs High School Namagunga who won in the Student Spark Cate
Said Adengo: “Beyond the chance to win prizes worth sh150m, this learner-centered framework equips students with critical skills such as communication, collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, preparing them for the job market and enhancing their problem-solving abilities,” she said.
She urged parents, students, teachers, and school owners to ensure their institutions participate in the program.
Adengo further noted that Stanbic Bank has invested more than sh7b in youth-led enterprises, fostering the teamwork, leadership, and discipline essential for personal and professional development.
Diana Ondoga
Diana Ondoga, Stanbic Bank’s Head of Corporate Social Investments said the NSC has positively impacted over half a million learners and educators across the country over the past decade.
She added that the NSC has played a big role in bridging the skills gap among Ugandan youth. “This championship aims to equip students with essential skills for the future success of their personal development.”
Ondoga said the NSC has shifted mindsets from job hunting to job creation.
Comboni College School Lira, the overall winner of the 2023 Stanbic-NSC won for the school a fully installed solar system worth Shs20 million
“Since the start of the skilling program, more than 187 business ventures have emerged from this initiative,” she said.
The competition has grown significantly, from just 10 participating schools during its inaugural year to over 250 today.
Last year, St. Joseph’s High School, Namagunga walked away with a brand new solar system valued at sh25m for their school, sh1.5m for their teacher/patron, and brand-new laptops for each team member in the Stanbic Bank National Schools Championship (NSC) which featured total prizes worth sh100m.
Secondary and vocational institutions that are interested in applying applications can reach out to stanbicnsc.ug.
