This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Robyn, a passionate and dedicated teacher originally from South Africa. With seven years of teaching experience spanning three countries, Robyn has taught in diverse environments, from government-funded schools in South Africa to top-tier facilities in Dubai, and now in Uganda, Africa. Her journey reflects her adaptability, resilience, and commitment to education in a variety of cultural and socioeconomic contexts.
In our conversation, Robyn shares her experiences teaching in Uganda, the challenges of adjusting to a new way of life, and the deeply rewarding aspects of working in a country that is both humbling and inspiring. She also offers practical advice for educators considering teaching opportunities in Uganda, from navigating visa processes to packing essentials.
Firstly, can you introduce yourself and provide some background about your teaching experience?
I'm Robyn, a 32 year-old from South Africa. I have 7 years teaching experience, 4 years in South Africa, 2 in Dubai and currently in my 1st year in Uganda, Africa! I've gone from a fully government funded school in South Africa to a first-world top-class facility school in the UAE. Polar opposites. The change was quite an adjustment. I like to think that Uganda is my happy medium.
What inspired you to teach in Dubai and then what inspired you to then move to Uganda, and how did you come across this opportunity?
Leaving South Africa really was a difficult choice and I wish our reason for leaving was simple. But the UAE offered us something that SA couldn't at the time: financial security, safety and dynamic social circles. We moved to the UAE with a 6 year-plan, however that quickly changed two years in when I fell pregnant with our second child and we felt the need to be a little closer to home. The principal for teaching and learning at my UAE school had left the year before to take on the position of director at my current school in Uganda. A year later, he called us up and said he was looking for international teachers and asked if we would we be interested in coming over. With it also being a leadership position, it was a no-brainer for us. So the opportunity came up, really, through the power of networking, so with that said, ensure you build a reputation for yourself within your field. You never know when or where opportunities may arise from the people you meet or work with.
What was the visa process like for you?
The school was really supportive in arranging the visas for myself and my family. Perhaps it is because we are South African but the process was pretty simple. We arrived on a 90 day tourist visa and once we submitted our documentation (qualifications, references, etc.) we were issued a work permit renewable annually. Comparing it to the UAE, the process was significantly easier and definitely cheaper.
Can you describe your first impressions of Uganda when you arrived?
Who knew a place could be described as being chaotic and beautiful at the same time! I remember my 45 minute taxi ride from the airport to Kampala and the driver laughing at the amount of times I commented about it being so green (and the wide open spaces typical of an African landscape!), something that is rarely seen in the UAE. When we got to the city it had completely changed. Kampala is congested with cars, people, taxi's and boda boda's (motorbikes used for transport), but is it also vibrant and lively. The local people love music and I have yet to have a night where it's quiet. It is definitely a place for hustlers as everyone is trying to do their bit to make some sort of an income. The people are poor but they are happy and you cannot help but smile when they try to sell you a barbequed corn or banana on the side of the road.
What is the typical school day like for a teacher in Uganda?
Teachers are expected at school from 7:30am to 4:30pm everyday. We have professional development workshops once a week and all teachers are expected to facilitate an extra-curricular activity one afternoon per week. We have 3 break times: 1 for a quick snack, 1 for a quick play break and 1 much longer one for lunch followed by some play time. Teachers are expected to teach Maths, English, Science and Humanities subjects while specialists cover music, art, computers, PE, swimming, choir, French, food tech (cooking classes) and even lego education classes (linked to to our STEAM programme). All these specialist sessions free teachers up to focus on planning, marking and assessment. Having the amount of time we have to focus on these things really influences the quality of the lessons we deliver.
How do the classroom sizes and resources in Uganda compare to your experiences elsewhere?
The maximum capacity is 26 learners per class and then the class gets split into two with a new teacher hired. The physical classrooms are spacious with everything you would think an international school would have. With a beautiful climate of around 26 degrees year-round, classroom windows are opened daily with fresh air and breeze flowing through the rooms- much unlike the air-conditioned rooms in the UAE. We have smart boards/screens but teachers work through desktop computers, no laptops. Although the school has advanced dramatically technology-wise in the last year, we are still about 10 years behind the UAE. We place international orders once a year for resources within a budget for each key stage and generally the school is well-equipped.
What kind of curriculum do schools in Uganda follow, and how does it differ from South Africa?
My school is an international school that follows the English National Curriculum. There are other international schools in Kampala with a variety of curriculum options for parents to choose from. Local schools on the other hand teach according to their local curriculum. In South Africa we followed CAPS which is also quite different to the UK National Curriculum.
What is the cost of living like in Uganda compared to South Africa?
I would say the cost of living is cheaper in Uganda compared to both the UAE and South Africa, especially when you are earning in a foreign currency (USD in this case). One of our biggest expenses in the UAE was a nanny for our then 2 year-old, but is one of our lowest expenses here simply because childcare is much more reasonably priced. Surprisingly, our food bill is higher here than in the UAE.
Can you describe your housing situation and the types of accommodations typically available to teachers?
Teachers on international contracts are provided with either a 2-bedroom (singles) or a 3-bedroom (families) apartment. The apartment is in a hotel environment. It is well equipped and fairly modern given the surroundings. There are no pool or gym facilities, however, your package does include a membership at the nearby country club where you can make use of the pool, gym, sauna and spa.
What can you do for leisure and entertainment day to day in Uganda?
Day to day entertainment can be quite difficult only because of the major traffic issue that Kampala has. The roads are in poor condition which is the main cause of the traffic. Unless you're taking a boda-boda somewhere (which can be risky with the way they drive), getting just 5km away could easily take you 40 minutes. Having said that though, the weekends are a great time to get out exploring. There are many parks that can be visited, golf courses to play on and Lake Victoria is a short 35 minute drive away on the expressway which is a beautiful and inexpensive getaway. The school holidays afford you time to move further out of the city. Uganda has an abundance of national parks with the opportunity to see plenty of nature's wonders.
How does the salary and benefits package for teachers in Uganda compare to other places you’ve worked?
Although in a higher position, the salary was slightly lower to what I was earning in the UAE, however, our quality of life is significantly better, so you really need to weigh up your pros and cons and decide what your priorities are. Teacher's salaries also get taxed 15%, which, honestly, was a hard pill to swallow after living in the UAE tax free! You get flights once your contract has ended (initial contract is 2 years) and then annually thereafter. Full medical insurance for yourself and family members. Visa expenses are covered. Accommodation provided. Teachers are responsible for their own utilities and wifi connections. Full membership to the country club which allows for access to their facilities and free schooling at the school for up to two children.
Have you found opportunities to network with other expat teachers or local educators?
Our school has a 50/50 policy which means 50% of staff are international and 50% are local Ugandan teachers. I love this idea as it gives you a chance to get to know local educators and understand the culture better through these developed relationships. Other international schools within the Kampala area also offer collaborative events between the schools so it is easy for you to connect with and network with the staff from the other schools to share ideas.
What are some of the biggest challenges you've faced while living and teaching in Uganda?
Life in Uganda is not convenient. Everything can be hard to find: cheese, cream and butter are luxuries and only if you're able to find them. The electricity goes out constantly but we are lucky enough to live in accommodation and teach at a school that has generators so it's barely noticed, but still inconvenient. Nothing gets done in a hurry- we've had to adapt to a much slower pace of life, and getting frustrated by it won't change anything, so we have accepted it. On the teaching side though, the workload is almost equal to that in the UAE, however, I don't feel even half the amount of pressure.
What have been the most rewarding aspects of your teaching experience in Uganda?
I am 100% having more of an impact here than I ever did in SA or the UAE. Both in the classroom as well as in the management side of it. Having the opportunity to have input in curriculum design and scheme of work options and mentoring teachers has been incredibly rewarding. It has also been my first experience with a smaller class of students and it has been rewarding to see the impact that has on the student's performance.
What advice would you give to someone considering teaching in Uganda?
Absolutely do it! If you had told me that one day i'd be living in Uganda I would have rolled my eyes at you and laughed. But it is an experience that really brings you back down to earth. Everything that the UAE is, Uganda is not. Uganda is very humbling with plenty of lessons for you to learn. It will challenge you personally in ways you can't imagine.
What essential items should teachers bring with them when moving to Uganda?
Name brands here are not a thing. I've had to change up my skincare routine to products that I am able to find here, same goes with shampoo, conditioner and even toothpaste. I never used super expensive or luxurious brands either, simple brands such as Bioderma, L'Oréal Elvive shampoo or Sensodyne Pronamel are not available here. I have spotted a MAC make-up store, but with inflated import taxes on foreign items, i've been too scared to venture in to see the prices. This is another example of how life gets simplified here. You use what you can find, and you do without for what you can't find. In terms of teaching equipment, you have basic stationary stores but classroom display borders, posters and teaching materials are all imported materials that would and should be handled by your school.
Where can readers find out more information about teaching in Uganda that you would recommend?
I'm not 100% sure of this as I never searched for the job, the job found me. However, I do know that our school posts positions (when looking for an international candidate) on tes.com. I also started an instagram page @uganda_living to document our transition. Anyone is welcome to reach out to me directly should they be interested in knowing more.
Comentários