Where I come from, it has always been important to show that you have the capacity to do something. In our communities, achievement has never been a silent affair, as it is marked, celebrated, and witnessed. When a girl comes of age, there is a ceremony to show that she is ready for marriage. Among the Baganda, for instance, a kwanjula is not just an introduction ceremony, it is a public declaration that a woman is prepared to take on new responsibilities. Among the Banyankole, young girls are taught by their aunts in ekyihugiro (seclusion), and when they emerge, adorned with beads and fine clothing, everyone knows they have transitioned into womanhood.
Without realizing it, we have carried these values into our modern lives. Today, certificates have become our contemporary versions of these cultural symbols. They are not just pieces of paper but they are public markers of effort, proof of competence, and milestones of growth. They remind us that learning is a journey, and every stage deserves recognition.
I have seen firsthand what certificates mean to those who complete Teaching Training Together courses. In the days when TTT hosted in-person trainings, one could see the joy and pride that filled the room on certificate day. People came early, dressed their best, and took photos with beaming smiles. They had attended every session, participated fully, and now they held in their hands a symbol of their hard work. I remember one teacher saying,
“This certificate gives me confidence, now when I speak in meetings and with peers; I know I’ve earned my place”.
This statement stayed with me as it showed the credibility and empowerment she received from a Certificate of Completion.
Even as we have moved to online learning, TTT has not lost that spirit. In our courses, Becoming a More Effective Teacher and Becoming a More Effective School Leader, a learner can still earn a Certificate of Completion. When a participant completes all six modules of the teacher course or the two modules for the school leader course, they earn a certificate that recognizes their growth and commitment.
A Certificate of Completion earned from Teaching Training Together does more than decorate a wall; it affirms progress. It whispers to a teacher or school leader I have grown. I have learned. I have completed. Just like our children celebrate rites of passage with songs and symbols, educators mark their learning journeys with certificates, a modern symbol of transformation. Because, in the end, whether in a village ceremony or an online classroom, one truth remains, recognition matters.
Flavia is an educator with a passion for teacher training and school leader development. Flavia has been a TTT partner since 2020.