EDITOR’S COMMENT: Plan for 2006
Jan 01, 2006
THE year 2005 was challenging yet fruitful for the education sector. Government continued according the sector high priority as reflected in the budget outturn of 98.7%.
THE year 2005 was challenging yet fruitful for the education sector. Government continued according the sector high priority as reflected in the budget outturn of 98.7%. Universal Primary Education (UPE) continued taking the lion’s share of the sector’s budget – 66%.
The sector also met most of the undertakings agreed with the donors as far as access and quality improvement measures were concerned. More textbooks were procured, the pupil to teacher ratio dropped from 54 to 51 pupils per teacher while the classroom to pupil ratio improved from 85 to 79 pupils per classroom.
The National Assessment of Progress in Education Report 2005 showed great improvement in the achievement levels in primary schools. While these are no mean achievements, the successes are still below acceptable standards.
The year 2006, therefore, promises to be more challenging as Universal Secondary Education (USE) is brought on board next year.
Critical planning is therefore needed to ensure the successful implementation of USE without losing the gains made under UPE and the education sector in general. The time for critical planning for the sector is now.
The sector also met most of the undertakings agreed with the donors as far as access and quality improvement measures were concerned. More textbooks were procured, the pupil to teacher ratio dropped from 54 to 51 pupils per teacher while the classroom to pupil ratio improved from 85 to 79 pupils per classroom.
The National Assessment of Progress in Education Report 2005 showed great improvement in the achievement levels in primary schools. While these are no mean achievements, the successes are still below acceptable standards.
The year 2006, therefore, promises to be more challenging as Universal Secondary Education (USE) is brought on board next year.
Critical planning is therefore needed to ensure the successful implementation of USE without losing the gains made under UPE and the education sector in general. The time for critical planning for the sector is now.