School dropout rate at 80%
Oct 26, 2006
EIGHTY percent of pupils drop out of school before P.7, data from the Education Management system (EMIS) has shown.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
EIGHTY percent of pupils drop out of school before P.7, data from the Education Management system (EMIS) has shown.
The assistant commissioner for statistics, monitoring and evaluation, Albert Byamugisha, yesterday told stakeholders at the education sector review conference that figures from districts across the country showed that the majority of the pupils drop out before P.7.
“Results from statistical abstracts (2001-2006) and PLE registration of candidates by UNEB indicate that on average, about 20% of children who started P.1 are able to survive up to P.7,†Byamugisha said.
He said, “What is most striking is that the number of PLE candidates has started decreasing.â€
According to EMIS data, there is a declining trend in primary school enrolment and the number of pupils sitting primary leaving exams (PLE).
In 2000, 1,637,651 pupils enrolled in P1, but only 451,808 have registered for PLE in 2006, and a number of these might not even sit for the examination.
Byamugisha also pointed out that 479,951 candidates registered for PLE but the number has this year dropped by 2.5% to 451,808.
As stakeholders reviewed and appraised the sector’s performance in the last six months, education minister Namirembe Bitamazire and permanent secretary Xavier Lubanga urged them to take note of the dropouts challenge.
“There is a steady decline in progression rates from P.3 to P.7. Although the number of pupils reaching P.7 has been increasing, about 70% of pupils who started P.1 together do not survive up to P.7 since the inception of UPE,†Byamugisha said.
He said the better performing districts in terms of completion were Wakiso, Luweero, Kabale, Mpigi, Bukwo and Iganga while the lowest were Kaabong, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Kalangala, Kotido and Amuria.
EIGHTY percent of pupils drop out of school before P.7, data from the Education Management system (EMIS) has shown.
The assistant commissioner for statistics, monitoring and evaluation, Albert Byamugisha, yesterday told stakeholders at the education sector review conference that figures from districts across the country showed that the majority of the pupils drop out before P.7.
“Results from statistical abstracts (2001-2006) and PLE registration of candidates by UNEB indicate that on average, about 20% of children who started P.1 are able to survive up to P.7,†Byamugisha said.
He said, “What is most striking is that the number of PLE candidates has started decreasing.â€
According to EMIS data, there is a declining trend in primary school enrolment and the number of pupils sitting primary leaving exams (PLE).
In 2000, 1,637,651 pupils enrolled in P1, but only 451,808 have registered for PLE in 2006, and a number of these might not even sit for the examination.
Byamugisha also pointed out that 479,951 candidates registered for PLE but the number has this year dropped by 2.5% to 451,808.
As stakeholders reviewed and appraised the sector’s performance in the last six months, education minister Namirembe Bitamazire and permanent secretary Xavier Lubanga urged them to take note of the dropouts challenge.
“There is a steady decline in progression rates from P.3 to P.7. Although the number of pupils reaching P.7 has been increasing, about 70% of pupils who started P.1 together do not survive up to P.7 since the inception of UPE,†Byamugisha said.
He said the better performing districts in terms of completion were Wakiso, Luweero, Kabale, Mpigi, Bukwo and Iganga while the lowest were Kaabong, Moroto, Nakapiripirit, Kalangala, Kotido and Amuria.