Are there any benefits to repeating a class?
Jan 06, 2009
EIGHT years in one class! It sounds like a tale, but James Gumei repeated P7 seven times before he qualified for Senior One. “I repeated, but my grades did not improve.
By Vision Reporter
EIGHT years in one class! It sounds like a tale, but James Gumei repeated P7 seven times before he qualified for Senior One. “I repeated, but my grades did not improve.
After the eighth year, although my grades were not that good, I managed to sneak within the cut-off points,†Gumei, now a lecturer at Makerere University says. “My friends left me, saying I was dull,†he narrates. Even his father, who should have been sympathetic, accused him of wasting his money and this affected his self-esteem.
The debate over requiring children to repeat a class because of poor grades is on, just a month to the new academic year. Parents whose children were asked to repeat classes are in a dilemma. “How can I pay millions for the same year again? Why can’t they just leave him to get what he can?†asks Steven Asiimwe, whose child was advised to repeat for not attaining a pass mark of 50%.Paula Atuhaire’s story is even more heart- rending. Each time her daughter repeats a class, she scores even worse. “I don’t know what to do. I am at a loss,†she says.
While school authorities think they are doing it for the good of the children, studies show that making children repeat a grade does more harm than good. A 2005 report on basic education in Uganda, by the education ministry found that as the number of repeaters in primary schools increased from 10% in 2000 to 15%( over 1 million) in 2004, the rate of dropout increased by 2%, from 5% to 7%.
A study done by the Chicago Panel on Public School Finances, also found that as the number of over-age students in Chicago’s high schools increased from 26 to 34 % from 1982 to 1985, the rate of dropouts rose from 43% to 45%.
“Retaining kids increases the dropout rate,†says Albert Byamugisha, the assistant commissioner for education planning. “Children who repeat a class are 40 to 45 % less likely to perform better. They instead fall further back.â€
Gumei agrees: “There is an assumption that the child will respond positively, but it stigmatises them as failures and slow learners.â€
But those in charge of the schools believe repeating a class can be good for the pupils because it exposes them to familiar material. As such, they say, it gives them a second chance to master information. “Some children may have not understood what has been taught or may have been sick. In some cases, the teachers want to measure progress of the child therefore they may ask them to repeat,†says said George Sebanenya, of the Young Men’s Christian Association.
Some teachers, however, blame parents. “They put us under pressure. I know a parent who told her child to repeat because she had failed to make it among the first 10. Others tell you their child is too young to proceed to the next level,†says a teacher at Namugongo Girls’ Primary School.
The World Bank argues that resources are wasted when a child repeats. It calculates that a student who successfully passes seven years of primary education should cost the Government sh353,738. But because of the high rate of repetition and dropout, a primary school graduate costs the country sh923,833.
Senior educatonist, Prof. Senteza Kajubi says a better approach would be to have no passmark for children with different learning abilities. “We have to consider slow learners and allow them to move forward without the stigma of failure, he says. He adds that some could do better if class sizes were reduced, allowing teachers more time to attend to their needs.
To save money, the Government is encouraging automatic promotion in an effort to decongest classrooms. “The teachers have to continuously assess the progress of the learner and promote the child, basing on that performance. We discourage repeating of a class,†says Aggrey Kibenge, the education ministry spokesperson.
Tips for parents
-Talk to the child and ask why he is performing poorly.
-Give the child scholastic materials. Some children repeat because they have no textbooks
-If he has been advised to repeat, talk to the child and encourage him that he will do better next time. lObserve the child’s behaviour . If he does not improve, ask for his opinion
-Enroll the child at the right age. For primary school it is usually is six years. If a child joins school at the right age, understanding what is taught will be easier.
For teachers
-Give the child remedial work
-Career teachers should counsel students
-Do not be too hard on the child.
Explain your reasons for making the child repeat to him and his parent.
EIGHT years in one class! It sounds like a tale, but James Gumei repeated P7 seven times before he qualified for Senior One. “I repeated, but my grades did not improve.
After the eighth year, although my grades were not that good, I managed to sneak within the cut-off points,†Gumei, now a lecturer at Makerere University says. “My friends left me, saying I was dull,†he narrates. Even his father, who should have been sympathetic, accused him of wasting his money and this affected his self-esteem.
The debate over requiring children to repeat a class because of poor grades is on, just a month to the new academic year. Parents whose children were asked to repeat classes are in a dilemma. “How can I pay millions for the same year again? Why can’t they just leave him to get what he can?†asks Steven Asiimwe, whose child was advised to repeat for not attaining a pass mark of 50%.Paula Atuhaire’s story is even more heart- rending. Each time her daughter repeats a class, she scores even worse. “I don’t know what to do. I am at a loss,†she says.
While school authorities think they are doing it for the good of the children, studies show that making children repeat a grade does more harm than good. A 2005 report on basic education in Uganda, by the education ministry found that as the number of repeaters in primary schools increased from 10% in 2000 to 15%( over 1 million) in 2004, the rate of dropout increased by 2%, from 5% to 7%.
A study done by the Chicago Panel on Public School Finances, also found that as the number of over-age students in Chicago’s high schools increased from 26 to 34 % from 1982 to 1985, the rate of dropouts rose from 43% to 45%.
“Retaining kids increases the dropout rate,†says Albert Byamugisha, the assistant commissioner for education planning. “Children who repeat a class are 40 to 45 % less likely to perform better. They instead fall further back.â€
Gumei agrees: “There is an assumption that the child will respond positively, but it stigmatises them as failures and slow learners.â€
But those in charge of the schools believe repeating a class can be good for the pupils because it exposes them to familiar material. As such, they say, it gives them a second chance to master information. “Some children may have not understood what has been taught or may have been sick. In some cases, the teachers want to measure progress of the child therefore they may ask them to repeat,†says said George Sebanenya, of the Young Men’s Christian Association.
Some teachers, however, blame parents. “They put us under pressure. I know a parent who told her child to repeat because she had failed to make it among the first 10. Others tell you their child is too young to proceed to the next level,†says a teacher at Namugongo Girls’ Primary School.
The World Bank argues that resources are wasted when a child repeats. It calculates that a student who successfully passes seven years of primary education should cost the Government sh353,738. But because of the high rate of repetition and dropout, a primary school graduate costs the country sh923,833.
Senior educatonist, Prof. Senteza Kajubi says a better approach would be to have no passmark for children with different learning abilities. “We have to consider slow learners and allow them to move forward without the stigma of failure, he says. He adds that some could do better if class sizes were reduced, allowing teachers more time to attend to their needs.
To save money, the Government is encouraging automatic promotion in an effort to decongest classrooms. “The teachers have to continuously assess the progress of the learner and promote the child, basing on that performance. We discourage repeating of a class,†says Aggrey Kibenge, the education ministry spokesperson.
Tips for parents
-Talk to the child and ask why he is performing poorly.
-Give the child scholastic materials. Some children repeat because they have no textbooks
-If he has been advised to repeat, talk to the child and encourage him that he will do better next time. lObserve the child’s behaviour . If he does not improve, ask for his opinion
-Enroll the child at the right age. For primary school it is usually is six years. If a child joins school at the right age, understanding what is taught will be easier.
For teachers
-Give the child remedial work
-Career teachers should counsel students
-Do not be too hard on the child.
Explain your reasons for making the child repeat to him and his parent.