Primary school teachers drop by 18,000
Jul 16, 2008
THE number of primary school teachers reduced by 18,000 between 2006 and 2007, the latest report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics has revealed. <br>There are currently 144,832 primary school teachers.
By Barbara Among
THE number of primary school teachers reduced by 18,000 between 2006 and 2007, the latest report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics has revealed.
There are currently 144,832 primary school teachers.
The June 2008 report stated that the pupil to teacher ratio also went up during the same period from 48 to 57.
The standard ratio is one teacher to 45 pupils.
The report attributed this to the increase in pupil enrollment coupled with the reduction in number of teachers.
The statistics body attributed the drastic decrease in number of teachers to the decision by education ministry to drop teachers with less than Grade III certificates.
“This was a result of the teacher verification exercise in which many people were struck off the payroll,†said the report.
However, with the pupil to teacher ratio standing at above 50 in all schools, there is need for the Government to recruit more teachers, the report recommends.
A high pupil to teacher ratio also means a reduction in the quality of education.
The report pointed that there was a 2% increase in the number of pupils enrolled between 2006 and 2007, similarly in the same period; there was another 2% increase in the number of primary school in the country.
The number of orphans enrolled at primary school level increased from 1.27 million to 1.33 million, a 5% increase.
Provision of adequate facilities for the pupils is still a challenge, the report noted, adding that only 48% of pupils in Primary One have adequate facilities.
The report also reveal that the primary school pupils with disability declined by 4% between 2006 and 2007.
The survey also pointed out that secondary school enrollment increased by 17% from 2006 to 2007.
It attributed the rise to the introduction of Universal Secondary Education.
As a result, student to teacher ratio increased from 19 to 39.
The total number of students lacking adequate seating space was 72,659, a 9% increase. The report reveals that more males are literate at 76% compared to female at 63%.
THE number of primary school teachers reduced by 18,000 between 2006 and 2007, the latest report by the Uganda Bureau of Statistics has revealed.
There are currently 144,832 primary school teachers.
The June 2008 report stated that the pupil to teacher ratio also went up during the same period from 48 to 57.
The standard ratio is one teacher to 45 pupils.
The report attributed this to the increase in pupil enrollment coupled with the reduction in number of teachers.
The statistics body attributed the drastic decrease in number of teachers to the decision by education ministry to drop teachers with less than Grade III certificates.
“This was a result of the teacher verification exercise in which many people were struck off the payroll,†said the report.
However, with the pupil to teacher ratio standing at above 50 in all schools, there is need for the Government to recruit more teachers, the report recommends.
A high pupil to teacher ratio also means a reduction in the quality of education.
The report pointed that there was a 2% increase in the number of pupils enrolled between 2006 and 2007, similarly in the same period; there was another 2% increase in the number of primary school in the country.
The number of orphans enrolled at primary school level increased from 1.27 million to 1.33 million, a 5% increase.
Provision of adequate facilities for the pupils is still a challenge, the report noted, adding that only 48% of pupils in Primary One have adequate facilities.
The report also reveal that the primary school pupils with disability declined by 4% between 2006 and 2007.
The survey also pointed out that secondary school enrollment increased by 17% from 2006 to 2007.
It attributed the rise to the introduction of Universal Secondary Education.
As a result, student to teacher ratio increased from 19 to 39.
The total number of students lacking adequate seating space was 72,659, a 9% increase. The report reveals that more males are literate at 76% compared to female at 63%.