New Life School-Matching Gift FAQs

1. If the Ugandan government provides free education from grade one through seven and the Sponsorship Program already provides school fees thereafter, why are you constructing another school?

The quality of education provided by government schools in rural Uganda is extremely poor. Children are placed in crowded classes of over 100 students to a single teacher, with only a few desks, textbooks and other school supplies to be shared by all. If the class size overflows the schoolroom, teachers may seat their children outside under a shade tree, leaving them no choice but to disperse the class in the event of uncooperative weather. Many schools also lack science labs, lab equipment, and other resources necessary to facilitate learning and academic excellence. Under such conditions, it is exceedingly difficult for any child to learn.

2. Will the school be exclusively for the orphans in the sponsorship program, or will it be open to other children in the community?

Orphans in our sponsorship program will be given priority for entry to the school. However, the school will also take in qualifying children from the community depending on availability of space.

3. If the school is open to the community, will the unsponsored children be required to pay fees?

Yes, all students will be required to pay fees. Parents who are not able to pay fees may be given the opportunity to pay in kind by supplying foodstuffs to the school.

4. How many students will the school accommodate?

After all phases of the project are complete, we intend to have two streams of forty students in each of six grade levels, for a grand total of 480 students served by the school in any given school year.

5. How are you planning to fund operational costs after construction is completed?

The larger portion of operational costs will be funded by the school fees from both the sponsored and unsponsored children and the remainder will be funded by donations and/or sustainability projects (growing/selling crops, etc.).

6. What are the annual operational costs estimated at?

Annual costs are estimated at approximately $100,000 (assuming a full enrollment of 480 students).

7. If I’m sponsoring a child through Covenant Mercies, are my sponsorship contributions used for this project?

Your sponsorship contributions will not be used to pay for the construction of the school. The project is being funded solely by separate donations. However, when the school opens and your sponsored child is enrolled in it, the portion of your contributions currently allocated to their education will be used to pay for his or her education at the school.

8. Will the school be a boarding school or a day school?

The school will be both a day and a boarding school. Children coming from far distances will be given priority to board at the school.

9. What will be the total cost of maintaining a child at New Life School per year?

The annual cost of maintaining a day scholar is estimated at $300. It will cost approximately $450 for a boarding student per year.

10. When will the school begin operation?

We plan to open the school in February 2009 for a limited number of students in grades 1 through 4. As we expand our classroom space and build a qualified faculty, additional classes will be phased in over the next four years, with a goal of accommodating 480 students by 2012.

11. I have an additional question.

If you have a question we haven’t answered here, please feel free to e-mail your question to info@covenantmercies.org. Thanks!