2014 Serere District Music, Dance and Drama

2014 Serere District Music, Dance and Drama

Primary School Competition Guidelines

Theme:Net care and repair

Target audience:Women and children

Theme message content:70% on net repair and 30% on net care

Background

Uganda is currently undertaking Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets(LLINs) Universal coverage distribution. Building upon the success of the 2013 National MDD Campaign, this contest aims to strengthen ongoing efforts to reduce Malaria mortality and morbidity. 75% of the district population comprise of women and children, with children making up 56% of the population.

The Net Care & Repair (NCR) Campaign was established as means of educating community members on proper methods of prolonging the life of Long-lasting Insecticide treated Nets (LLINs), with the ultimate aim of reducing malaria morbidity and mortality. With proper care, usage, and repair, LLINs are expected to last up to 5 years. This campaign, which pilots its activities within the Serere District, focuses on households, community members, and primary school children as change agents.

Music, dance and drama (MDD) is a traditional and entertaining medium for communication that can provide a friendly and effective entry point into the community. MDD invigorates learning processes and allows students to internalize the messages and life-skills they promote.

The effects of malaria on school health cannot be underestimated as it greatly affects the welfare of children and families. It is the most common disease among children in school (43% of illness episodes). Malaria causes 13-50% of all school days missed, which leads to poor class performance. Parents of children with malaria miss days of work, thereby reducing the household income. Moreover, severe cerebral malaria affects the cognitive and learning ability of children. Repeated bouts of malaria may expose individuals to chronic malnutrition and to increased vulnerability to other diseases, placing them at risk of further health and cognitive decline.

Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Uganda, accounting for 25-40% of outpatient visits at health facilities, 15-20% of all hospital admissions and 9-14% of all hospital deaths. The country loses $658 million while each person loses 5-20 working days annually due to malaria.

Children without malaria experience many benefits.

• They are less likely to miss school and other activities
• Have better ability to reason and think
• Perform better in school exams
• Are less likely to develop learning disabilities and behavioral problems
• Will have more energy, allowing them to interact or explore their world better

Families of these children do not lose time from work and save money that would have been spent on treatment.

Malaria is both preventable and treatable and major reductions in the deaths and illness it causes are possible within the next several years. Attacking the disease full-force with a front-loaded effort will have tremendous impact on health and economic outcomes. In line with the national commitment to poverty reduction and social development goals, the Government of Uganda is taking an affirmative and emphatic step towards elimination of malaria as a public health problem in the country. The Government has set a target of 80% of the population consistently practicing malaria prevention and the appropriate treatment-seeking behaviors.

Items for the Music, Dance and Drama primary school competition

The Music, Dance and Drama primary school Competition is being rolled out by the Ministry of Education and Sports, in collaboration with the Stop Malaria Project. The Net Care & Repair MDD Pilot will take place in the Serere District over the month of March 2014. 176 Schools are anticipated to participate in 4 categories:

Drama – 15minutes

It must be:

•In English

•On this year’s theme. Net care and repair

•With a clear plot that has a beginning, middle part or body and conclusion, indicated in script form

•Written and therefore script presented to adjudicators in advance

Creative Dance – 7minutes

It should:

•Be with rich, relevant and varied accompaniment

•Use accompanying songs that do not portray embarrassing messages

•Employ rich and varied motives

•Use appropriate costumes, props and make – up

•Explore all the dance formations and levels

Poetry – 4minutes

It must be in English

Original Composition – African Song Style – 7minutes

It should be:

•On this year’s theme – Net care and repair

•Composed and performed in any Ugandan language or Kiswahili. A part from Kiswahili, the composed song MUST be from within and NOT come from outside the region of the dialect of the song.

•With texts that do not convey embarrassing messages.

As outlined below, there will be 3 rounds of competitions, with the final round producing 3 winners (first, second, and third place) within each category.

Procedure and regulations for competitions

1. All participants in the festival at any level must be registered and legitimate pupils or students of the participating school.
2. In case of Primary schools, all children from Primary 1 to P. 7 should participate.
3. A school/institution is liable to disqualification in a particular item or class if it:

a)Performs outside the set syllabus.

b)Uses unregistered or/and illegitimate pupils or students in the school/college choir.

c)Is established that a creative item they performed was copied from another choir without permission and not therefore their original idea.

1. A school/institution is liable for penalty as follows:

a)Exceeding the time limit given leads to loss of 1 mark for every extra minute.

b)For drama the time limit is 15 minutes. A warning bell will be sounded 3 minutes to the end or on the 12th minute. At the District festival curtains will be lowered at the stroke of 15 minutes without further warning. The same should also be done at any level of the competition where curtains are in use.

1. If two or more schools tie in the winning position, only those 2 or 3 schools will be re-adjudicated by another independent panel of adjudicators. This should be done within three (3) to five (5) days so as to select the best school.
2. Recording the festival performances is prohibited unless permission is granted by the organizers of the festival.
3. All complaints regarding the festival should be presented through the right procedures at least to any two of the following: Regional MDD Committee, District Inspectors of Schools and District Education Officers.
4. Any school involved in direct confrontation with officials or organizers of the festival shall be penalized. Penalties shall be in way of loosing marks or disqualification from the competition.
5. Any trainer or teacher who confronts officials or organizers or adjudicators at the festival shall be suspended or banned from festivals at all levels.
6. Any trainer who uses non-registered/illegitimate children and any school who knowingly or unknowingly allows the use of such children will be suspended or banned from the festivals at all levels.

Adjudication

1. A person selected as an adjudicator should have adequate knowledge and experience of the theme and the entire festival syllabus.
2. The adjudicators must not be corrupt. In the event of evidence of corruption, re-adjudication shall be carried out by another independent panel of adjudicators.
3. At most and at any time, adjudication of a particular item should be done by two people. This does not, however, rule out the use of more than two adjudicators in a particular situation where it warrants.
4. No person will be allowed to adjudicate at a level that comprises of any school/group, which he/she has regularly trained or visited more than once.
5. Persons who have adjudicated at any one level should not adjudicate at another level.

Net care and repair messages

The benefits of Net care and repair

A good net has no holes

•If you take care of your net, your net will last longer.

•A net can last 3 to 5 years, giving you long-lasting protection from malaria.

•You will save money on buying new nets and malaria treatment.

•Your health and that of your children is likely to improve greatly because you will have prevented the mosquitoes that carry malaria.

•Pregnant mothers will have healthy pregnancies and deliver healthy babies.

Repairing the Net

The most important thing you can do to take care of your net is to repair holes.

•Check your net for holes every day.

•Do not wait for small holes to get bigger

•Repair holes immediately.

•You can sew it up, tie a knot, use a patch, or use a piece of string to close the hole.

•Repairs are easy and can take no more than 15 minutes.

Tying it up every day

•Tie up your net during the day.

•Many children like to play with the net. By tying up your net, you are keeping it away from dirt, pests, and children.

•This is a good routine. It is easy to do and takes almost no time. It can be done even on busy mornings.

Washing and drying the Net

•Nets are NOT like clothes. You do NOT need to wash them often

•Too much washing wears out the net.

•Keep your net clean by tying it up every day.

•Wash your net no more than once every three months.

•Use ordinary soap, not bleach or detergent.

•Dry your net in the shade. The sun can damage the insecticide.

•If you think the insecticide may no longer be effective, it is even more important to repair holes immediately.

2014 Time table

DATE / ACTIVITY / VENUE
January, 2014 / Training of Trainers and adjudicators / Regional level
February, 2014 / Training of trainers within the districts / Venue within district
Training at school level / Within the school
February 24th-28th 2014 / Inter-house/class/colour competitions / Appropriate venues
March 3rd- 7th 2014 / Village competitions / Appropriate venue
March, 10th-14th 2014 / Sub-County competitions / Appropriate venue
March 21st 2014 / District competitions / Appropriate venue