WHY ARE EDUCATION STANDARDS FALLING?
Oct 20, 2009
YOUR PLATFORM<br><br>I have analysed reasons why children perform poorly in class and at national level and come to the conclusion that there are wide individual differences between learners at both primary and secondary levels.
YOUR PLATFORM
I have analysed reasons why children perform poorly in class and at national level and come to the conclusion that there are wide individual differences between learners at both primary and secondary levels.
Some children report for classes an empty stomachs because some families survive on one meal a day.
There are children who sleep in class while others steal their friend’s food. Some have been suspended for stealing without anyone trying to get to the bottom of such behaviour.
Secondly, some children are naturally slow learners and yet teachers focus on fast or bright learners who pick up concepts fast in class.
This makes slow learners feel neglected and look at themselves as failures in life. Such children fail simple questions during exams.
Research has also shown that children from broken homes with parents who go out to bars at night do not concentrate on their books for lack of a conducive environment.
Poverty and poor health in some homes play a negative role, especially in the girl-child’s life. Most of them are lured into pre-marital sex with promises of money to meet their basic needs. Such children drop out of school or perform poorly due to absenteeism.
My advice to fellow teachers and parents is that we should analyse the cause of poor performance before we punish children for laxity and failure.
Simple remedies for the above include:
- Visiting homes of children where possible, to assess and analyse their living conditions.
- Teachers can invite parents with naughty or dull students to chart the way forward and sensitise parents on the value of education, a balanced diet and parenting.
- Providing a conducive environment for slow learners by using learning aids, guidance and counselling, mixing both slow and fast learners and giving extra time to slow learners.
These can help reduce the differences among pupils and students and improve on the academic performance in schools.
- Andrew Musinguzi
Do you have any ideas on how to improve the academic standards in our schools? E-mail your ideas to education@newvision.co.ug
I have analysed reasons why children perform poorly in class and at national level and come to the conclusion that there are wide individual differences between learners at both primary and secondary levels.
Some children report for classes an empty stomachs because some families survive on one meal a day.
There are children who sleep in class while others steal their friend’s food. Some have been suspended for stealing without anyone trying to get to the bottom of such behaviour.
Secondly, some children are naturally slow learners and yet teachers focus on fast or bright learners who pick up concepts fast in class.
This makes slow learners feel neglected and look at themselves as failures in life. Such children fail simple questions during exams.
Research has also shown that children from broken homes with parents who go out to bars at night do not concentrate on their books for lack of a conducive environment.
Poverty and poor health in some homes play a negative role, especially in the girl-child’s life. Most of them are lured into pre-marital sex with promises of money to meet their basic needs. Such children drop out of school or perform poorly due to absenteeism.
My advice to fellow teachers and parents is that we should analyse the cause of poor performance before we punish children for laxity and failure.
Simple remedies for the above include:
- Visiting homes of children where possible, to assess and analyse their living conditions.
- Teachers can invite parents with naughty or dull students to chart the way forward and sensitise parents on the value of education, a balanced diet and parenting.
- Providing a conducive environment for slow learners by using learning aids, guidance and counselling, mixing both slow and fast learners and giving extra time to slow learners.
These can help reduce the differences among pupils and students and improve on the academic performance in schools.
- Andrew Musinguzi
Do you have any ideas on how to improve the academic standards in our schools? E-mail your ideas to education@newvision.co.ug