Muyingo blames teachers for failure of sciences

Sep 05, 2017

Minister Muyingo says the Government has invested heavily in promoting the teaching and learning of sciences, but students continue to fail.

PIC: Minister Muyingo  (left) chats with SESEMAT chairperson of Teso region and headteacher of Teso College Silvester Ocaatum (right),  during the SESEMAT programme launch at Kololo Secondary School. Second left is Muguluma.  (Photo by Ronnie Kijjambu)

Science teachers are to blame for the continued failure of their subjects, the State Minister for Higher Education, Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo, has said.

He noted that it is unfortunate that despite the Government's heavy investment in promoting the teaching and learning of science and mathematics, students continue to fail.

"It is you the science teachers to blame for these failures in schools. You cannot blame the Government or head teachers for these failures in schools. The Government has invested a lot in science teachers and put in place all the necessary facilities and it's up to you to do your work," he noted.

Muyingo made the remarks while launching the first science Teaching Reference (TR) booklets at the Secondary Science and Mathematics Teacher's (SESEMAT) national programme office at Kololo Secondary School in Kampala recently.

The event was attended by ministry officials, SESEMAT trainers, development partners and science teachers from various schools countrywide.

The Government, with support from Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), introduced the SESEMAT programme 12 years ago.

The programme is aimed at improving the teaching approaches of science and mathematics in schools to improve performance and attract more students to do the subjects.

"We have realised the teachers do not use the new methods given to them during the SESEMAT training. They go back and use the same old approaches; thus leading to the continued failures we see up to now. You must implement what you have been given if we are to change the trend," he said.

Muyingo cited subjects like physics, biology, mathematics and chemistry, saying they were poorly performed in the recent mock exams.

He said there is need to popularise the teaching and learning of science and mathematics and promoting of technology if the country is to develop.

"These reference books should help you plan your lessons. You must have a plan for your work. The teaching of sciences should be inviting and friendly. Let your performance be reflected in students' performance," Muyingo said.

The booklets were developed jointly by the National Curriculum Development Centre, Uganda National Examination Board and experts from JICA. The printing of the booklets cost sh70m and was funded by JICA.

Muyingo thanked the Japanese Government for the support throughout the years and promised to continue funding the programme.

The technical administrator of the SESEMAT programme, Gerald Muguluma, said the reference books are to help teachers plan their lessons.

"Each school in the country is going to get a set of books to easily plan their lessons for Senior One. We hope to produce other booklets for others classes. It takes a long process because this took us about three years," he added.

Muguluma said the programme is aimed at retooling and equipping science teachers with new approaches and methods of teaching science with more emphasis on hands-on rather than theory.

The assistant commissioner for secondary education, Benson Kule Baritazale, said the Government is ready to continue with the programme even after JICA has left.

 

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