17 Subjects For Senior 1

ALL senior one students to be admitted into secondary schools this year will be required to study 17 subjects, reports Charles Ariko. John Agaba, the assistant commissioner in-charge of secondary education, said yesterday that most of the private secondary schools had ignored teaching science subjects and instead concentrated on teaching arts at the expense of the students. Addressing a meeting of over 500 deputy head teachers and directors of studies from government-aided secondary schools, Agaba said the students would be required to study 17 subjects from S1-2 and then opt for 10 subjects from S3-4. The meeting was held at Kibuli Senior Secondary School. Agaba said the measure was aimed at improving the quality of education at "O" level and to expose students to various disciplines. He said some private schools that have not been teaching science subjects had already complained that the measure was impracticable. But Agaba disagreed with them. "We feel it can be done. We are starting it in the next intake and all the 17 subjects will be examinable subjects," Agaba said. He said the new policy has to be implemented by all secondary schools whether they are government-aided or private. Martin Omagor, the Commissioner for Special Needs Education and Career Guidance, cautioned the school heads against examination malpractices and conducting coaching classes outside the official calendar issued by the Ministry of Education and Sports. He said the ministry recently recommended the cancellation of licences of some schools that were involved in the practices outside the guidelines laid down by the ministry. Ends