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Mr. Soil : "You need a lot of patience and perseverance to keep going, but I realise that I'm fulfilling a greater purpose.” (© VVOB)
Ugandan agriculture teacher Mbaziira Hadadi attended training provided by the Belgian VVOB. Henceforth, "Mr Soil" will provide more practical classes designed to deeply engage his students. Good teachers are crucial, particularly in a country where many young people face unemployment and look to agriculture for opportunities.

Mbaziira Hadadi, 35, is a dedicated teacher in the rural community of Mubende, located in the heart of Uganda. Despite his dedication, he became increasingly aware of the limitations in his teaching approach. The government aims to introduce a new curriculum that shifts from a purely competitive approach to one emphasising the development of practical skills. "I realised I didn't have the expertise to effectively deliver that practical curriculum," he explains.
But then, he came across Learning Entrepreneurship and Agriculture Practically (LEAP)—a project funded by Belgian Development Cooperation and managed by our FPS—through which VVOB supports quality education in agriculture and entrepreneurship to facilitate the implementation of the new curriculum. The project targets lower secondary and vocational education teachers. VVOB is an international organisation - headquartered in Belgium - that focuses on education.
‘Real world’ knowledge
"When I heard about the training, I immediately requested to participate. I was very excited about it," says Mbaziira. The training provided him with a complete toolbox of relevant practical teaching methods that he hadn't previously considered. "I previously assumed I had all the knowledge I needed to teach my students and didn’t consider partnering with others."
Today, he understands the importance of integrating others' knowledge and ‘real world’ experience into his classes. "I discovered that our school nurse was exceptionally skilled at growing vegetables." Today, she is one of my educators from the ‘professional world’.
Mbaziira also invited other teachers to share their practical knowledge and even managed to recruit a physics teacher. "I had built a vertical garden, but was struggling with the irrigation system. The physics teacher suggested a solution using locally sourced materials.”
YouTube channel
"My students gave me the humorous, yet not-so-cool, nickname 'Mr Soil," he recalls. But today, that 'soil' is more relevant than ever. Uganda's soil fertility is quickly deteriorating due to unsustainable practices. And it just so happens that soil is fundamental to prosperous agriculture.
'Mr Soil' goes to great lengths to connect with his students, with new technologies playing a pivotal role in his efforts. "I started making short, educational videos and posted them on my YouTube channel. It helped me build a strong rapport with both my students and the teachers."
The impact is obvious. A noticeably greater number of students are opting to continue their studies in agriculture. "Before I applied the new methods, many students dropped out after a while. Today, more of them continue to take my classes."
44 million additional teachers needed
Despite the successes, challenges remain. For instance, the teaching profession is frequently undervalued. Teachers carry a heavy workload, are often underpaid, and face insufficient opportunities for professional development.
As a result, too few people choose the profession, a pressing issue that we are also well aware of in Belgium. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the world will need an additional 44 million teachers to meet the demand for primary and secondary education by 2030. By that time, only 4 out of 10 countries will have enough teachers to ensure universal primary education, and for secondary education, barely 1 in 5 countries will meet the requirement.
Support for young people
Nevertheless, teachers are essential to quality education and play a pivotal role in shaping the sustainable, resilient, and prosperous future we all aspire to. Take, for example, the agriculture course that Mr Soil teaches at the lower secondary level. Approximately 80% of Uganda's population still relies on agriculture for their livelihoods. Two-thirds of young people—who make up a large portion of the population—are attempting to earn a living through agricultural activities, yet many remain unemployed. Therefore, a well-taught agriculture course—emphasising climate-smart practices and entrepreneurship—can significantly improve the living conditions of Ugandan youth.
Patience and perseverance
You certainly don't need to convince Mbaziira. His strong passion for teaching and focus on his students drive him forward. "You need a lot of patience and perseverance to keep going," he says. "I realise that I'm fulfilling a greater purpose, and with continued effort, success will follow. I want to inspire my students in a way that helps them become great citizens and professionals in their fields.”
Lifelong professional development and improved recognition of teachers are vital steps toward ensuring quality education for all students. The teacher shortage must be addressed, and VVOB is fully committed to that mission. After all, investing in education is not merely a priority; it is a necessity. An urgent one!
Adapted from the article ‘Cultivating Knowledge through Innovative Teaching in Uganda’, published by VVOB – education for development.
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