The NGLP Tracking Impact Series featuring Mary Colette offers a compelling story of transformation in education driven by leadership and dedication. Mary Colette, once a beneficiary of the Angel Scholarship under the Next Generation Leadership Programme (NGLP), now serves as the deputy principal of Nyangoma Primary and Junior Schools. Her journey exemplifies how investing in one educator can create a ripple effect that transforms entire communities.

When Mary Colette arrived at Nyangoma, the school faced significant challenges: the student population was just 230, many teachers had left due to “deoization” (withdrawal or transfer), and the harsh, dry environment made teacher retention difficult. Parents’ trust in teachers was fragile, and the school’s academic performance was poor, often ranking at the bottom in exams.

Despite these hurdles, Mary Colette, working closely with the principal, implemented innovative strategies such as splitting classes to increase teacher-learner contact and fostering healthy competition among students. They also collaborated with higher-performing schools to benchmark progress. Within just a year and a half, the school rose to the top academically, and enrollment more than doubled to 525 students.

Mary Colette credits her success to the education and leadership training she received through the NGLP scholarship, which equipped her with skills in human resource management, educational ethics, discipline, and decision-making. She also identified that many learners’ challenges stemmed from unstable family backgrounds, with about 50% coming from broken homes.

To address this, she introduced compassionate measures such as attaching vulnerable learners to teachers who act as surrogate parents and training peer counselors to support students emotionally. Recognizing the importance of parental involvement in the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), she actively engaged parents through expert talks and constant communication, despite resistance from some guardians.

Her leadership style is marked by inclusivity, teamwork, and a hands-on approach. She never misses her classes, believing that direct engagement with learners is crucial to understanding and improving their experience. Mary Colette also leverages a network of alumni to support financially struggling families, demonstrating a holistic approach to education management.

The story of Mary Colette is a vivid illustration of how the Next Generation Leadership Programme fosters servant leadership within the African Church, particularly among Catholic Religious Sisters, Brothers, and Priests. By supporting leaders like Mary Colette with education and training, the NGLP not only transforms individual lives but also creates lasting legacies of community upliftment and academic excellence.