UK teachers impressed by Uganda’s teaching system
Mar 21, 2004
TWO teachers stand in a Primary Seven class imparting knowledge to about 40 pupils.
By Catherine Ntabadde
TWO teachers stand in a Primary Seven class imparting knowledge to about 40 pupils.
One teacher is teaching while the other is standing at the back of the classroom. The pupils, all clad in sports wear, canvas shoes and maroon sweaters bearing a label, Kabojja Junior School listen attentively.
The dictionaries at the pupils’ desks easily reveal the subject the pupils are engaged in, English. One of the teachers then says, “Past perfect involves two actions or two events in the past.†She later asks the pupils to give examples of the past perfect tense.
The teacher who was standing at the back then comes in to explain past perfect and past participle using pictures he drew on the blackboard.
This is the team teaching system, 10 teachers from United Kingdom came to study.
The teachers who all teach in state primary schools in the UK visited Kabojja, Kampala Parents, City Parents, Buganda Road, Makerere University and Naguru Katali primary schools on February 17.
The visit is organised by British Council Uganda under their Teachers’ International Professional Development Programme.
According to Irene Naiga, programme officer at British Council, the purpose of the visit is to observe classroom practice in relevant subject areas, share materials with local colleagues, and hold discussions on comparative approaches.
The teachers say Uganda’s Primary Education is of high standard.
The head of the delegation Christopher Wightman, an Art and Design advisor from Devon County in UK, said though Ugandan classes are big, the teachers are devoted to their work. He however noted the need of more resources like books, reference materials, reading materials.
“UPE is better than no education. It is really good that government introduced this programme. It is a fair start. We are very impressed. This is much better than our expectations. The teachers involve the pupils when teaching. The organisation, management of the schools, the teaching as well as the learning are very good,†Wightman said.
The visiting teachers are Joanne Blight, a History coordinator, Sarah Maude an advanced skills teacher, Candida Rowley Art and Design coordinator, Caroline Mercer Art, Numeracy, P.E and History coordinator, Caren Dubash Science coordinator, Jayne Morgan Deputy headteacher, Louise Norris Art and Design leader, Marcus Derek Lang P.E coordinator and Joanna Brown Art coordinator.
Maude said teachers in the schools they visited are very open. “You get that in England but teachers here are proud of their children and schools. The children freely express themselves. We saw them sing and dance. The UK children are more conscious of moving their bodies.â€
She hailed Ugandan teachers and pupils on collecting materials for a particular class which enables the latter to work on their own.
Rowley said the pupils are very polite and disciplined. “The rhythm and pace of teaching is very good. The children are involved in the whole process of teaching,†she said.
Brown said she was surprised to see computers in some of the schools.
TWO teachers stand in a Primary Seven class imparting knowledge to about 40 pupils.
One teacher is teaching while the other is standing at the back of the classroom. The pupils, all clad in sports wear, canvas shoes and maroon sweaters bearing a label, Kabojja Junior School listen attentively.
The dictionaries at the pupils’ desks easily reveal the subject the pupils are engaged in, English. One of the teachers then says, “Past perfect involves two actions or two events in the past.†She later asks the pupils to give examples of the past perfect tense.
The teacher who was standing at the back then comes in to explain past perfect and past participle using pictures he drew on the blackboard.
This is the team teaching system, 10 teachers from United Kingdom came to study.
The teachers who all teach in state primary schools in the UK visited Kabojja, Kampala Parents, City Parents, Buganda Road, Makerere University and Naguru Katali primary schools on February 17.
The visit is organised by British Council Uganda under their Teachers’ International Professional Development Programme.
According to Irene Naiga, programme officer at British Council, the purpose of the visit is to observe classroom practice in relevant subject areas, share materials with local colleagues, and hold discussions on comparative approaches.
The teachers say Uganda’s Primary Education is of high standard.
The head of the delegation Christopher Wightman, an Art and Design advisor from Devon County in UK, said though Ugandan classes are big, the teachers are devoted to their work. He however noted the need of more resources like books, reference materials, reading materials.
“UPE is better than no education. It is really good that government introduced this programme. It is a fair start. We are very impressed. This is much better than our expectations. The teachers involve the pupils when teaching. The organisation, management of the schools, the teaching as well as the learning are very good,†Wightman said.
The visiting teachers are Joanne Blight, a History coordinator, Sarah Maude an advanced skills teacher, Candida Rowley Art and Design coordinator, Caroline Mercer Art, Numeracy, P.E and History coordinator, Caren Dubash Science coordinator, Jayne Morgan Deputy headteacher, Louise Norris Art and Design leader, Marcus Derek Lang P.E coordinator and Joanna Brown Art coordinator.
Maude said teachers in the schools they visited are very open. “You get that in England but teachers here are proud of their children and schools. The children freely express themselves. We saw them sing and dance. The UK children are more conscious of moving their bodies.â€
She hailed Ugandan teachers and pupils on collecting materials for a particular class which enables the latter to work on their own.
Rowley said the pupils are very polite and disciplined. “The rhythm and pace of teaching is very good. The children are involved in the whole process of teaching,†she said.
Brown said she was surprised to see computers in some of the schools.