No harm in many subjects but kids need to relax

Sep 10, 2008

EDITOR—I refer to Rev Amos kasibante’s letter about the number of subjects to be studied in secondary school. I accept his idea of sports but not the number of subjects. In S.2 the number of subjects can be 13 to give the student choice because in S.3 these subjects are slashed to eight or nine.

EDITOR—I refer to Rev Amos kasibante’s letter about the number of subjects to be studied in secondary school. I accept his idea of sports but not the number of subjects. In S.2 the number of subjects can be 13 to give the student choice because in S.3 these subjects are slashed to eight or nine. Then in S.5 and 6, the subjects are slashed further to three or four.

In 1984, I studied French, woodwork, English, CRE, physics, chemistry, mathematics, biology, fine art, geography, history, music and agriculture. In S.3, I dropped CRE, fine art , music and woodwork. I started P1 in 1975 without going through nursery school. There was no coaching by teachers like these days but it was done by my elder brothers and sisters or friends voluntarily. On a marketday, lessons stopped at mid-day and pupils were free to go to the market or home. Teachers would interact with friends in the market and as a pupil one’s brain remained fresh the next day. Morning lessons began at 9.00am and ended at 4:30pm and by 5:00pm pupils would be going home. On weekends there were no classes unlike these days where pupils study all year round. Uniforms were washed on weekends.

Today, a child begins nursery education at three or four years and studies very difficult subjects instead of playing and learning by singing and socialising.

A child wakes up at 4:00am to get ready for school and is collected in a vehicle instead of walking for physical exercise.

There is too much academic work and too little time to relax.

I have stopped my son in P1 from studying from morning to 5:00pm although his teacher is complaining.

There is no problem in taking 13 subjects but elementary education should be relaxed with a lot of sports as Kasibante suggests so that a child does not find the Ugandan education system tiresome and boring.

Endara Otimlut
Lira

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