Bee keeping lessons are to be part of the curriculum at Praise Preparatory Children's Centre in eastern Uganda.

The school plans to make and sell honey as a way of generating income to support the 98 pupils, many of whom are orphans and vulnerable children.

Plans are also underway to establish a series of seminars on agriculture as a way of improving farming methods in the community.

In addition, the school envisages introducing adult literacy education, adding to the HIV/AIDS awareness programme for pupils and the surrounding community, which the school already offers.

These aspirations were announced at the Parents Annual General Meeting on 15 October 2010, where new head teacher Lydia Nandutu said: "All of you will agree with me that in the modern Uganda and the whole world in general, education is the key to everything."

Chairman, Stephen Wakwaale, added: "There is a saying in our community that when teeth come together, a bone is broken. So when we meet together, parents and teachers, problems that affect our children are cleared."

Much of the meeting was devoted to discussion about school funds; and as they come from parents, who are themselves on low incomes, there is an apparent lack.

As a result, pupils are not being sufficiently fed at school, with fewer than 30 pupils paying for the food staples of maize flour and sugar, the ingredients for porridge and pocho (local bread).

Children are also absenting or arriving late to school while parents struggle to pay for books, pencils, folders, Maths equipment, bags, school uniform and exam fees, which need to be paid twice a year.

In addition, there is also a need for desks and chairs as pupils in the Primary 1 class only have mats to sit on.

The school does not own its own land, but is fortunate in that a member of the community, L Wabuti, who has since died, offered the use of their premises to the school.

Despite a lack of finance, the students continue to do well in athletics, sports and games, dance, drama and music; coming second in a sub county music competition.

The fact that the school continues to deliver education is a testimony to the members of staff who volunteer to work because there is not enough money to pay them.