Picture
Support our Students

Our School
We offer excellent education for 250 children (pre-school through seventh grade).​
  • Class size is limited to 24 students.
  • Teachers are trained extensively through on-the-job training and a partnership with the Samford University School of Education.
  • Each student (and staff) is given a healthy breakfast and lunch daily.
  • Art, STEAM, PE, and chapel are offered weekly.
  • Students are not threatened or physically punished at school.
  • Students are assigned campus jobs and work in all departments weekly.

How It Works

Each interested family fills out a student application, goes through a home visit, and finally, the applicant and a parent or guardian are invited to the school for a final interview.

We facilitate a basic academic assessment and have questions for the parent/guardian to answer. Finally, with all of our information gathered, we sit to discern the admissions process. We are looking for families connected to our community, committed to education, in need of financial help, and students who show potential to succeed in our program.

Once a student is accepted they are awarded a school tuition package. Overall our families pay an average of 25% of the actual cost of attendance. No family pays more than $600 per year and some pay as little as $100 per year.

The difference in funding is made up by the generosity of donors who want to see our community thrive.

Why It's Necessary

​Uganda is in the midst of a population surge. It is one of the world's youngest and fastest growing populations. The rapid population growth and lack of education infrastructure has led to drastically under-performing or inaccessible schools.
​
In 1997, Uganda implemented a program called UPE (Universal Public Education) to offer primary public education for all children. The program did not adequately fund teacher training, hiring new teachers, or construction of more schools and classrooms. Classrooms were suddenly filled with 75 - 100 students and few new teachers.

​Without money to address the issues, families lost faith and quit sending their children to the schools, but classes are still overcrowded with an average teacher to pupil ratio of 1:43 and classrooms averaging 54 students.

Other Issues In Ugandan Schools:
  • Physical punishment is often used in classrooms.
  • Most schools do not feed their students, leaving those who came without any food hungry all day.
  • Supplies are so limited many students do not have books.
  • Art & music classes are rare to non-existent.

What Our Students Say

Almost all of our students have been at Terra Nova since they started school, but some have experienced other area schools. Here is some of the feedback they have shared about what makes Terra Nova different:
​
  • “We eat a really good diet. I love the food.”
  • “My teachers do not beat me.”
  • “I can share ideas and questions with my teacher without fear.”
  • “We have time to read every day here.”
  • “They give us enough time to play.”
  • “I feel smart in my Terra Nova uniform. I am proud to wear it.”
  • “New students are made to feel welcome.”
  • “We get to hold books in our hands to read.”
  • “We do not go to school into the night. We get to go home early.”
  • “We get to have lessons in art!”
  • “The classrooms are not crowded with 100 students. You can learn your classmates’ names.”
  • “We are not forced to come for lessons on Saturdays. We have time to be free.”