Worst Universal Primary Education districts
Dec 10, 2007
KABALE was the best-performing district in the primary education sub-sector in 2006. The ranking took into account the number of pupils who complete primary school, the number of children joining Primary One at the right age of six years, the number of pupils per teacher and the number of pupils pe
By Joyce Namutebi and John Eremu
KABALE was the best-performing district in the primary education sub-sector in 2006. The ranking took into account the number of pupils who complete primary school, the number of children joining Primary One at the right age of six years, the number of pupils per teacher and the number of pupils per classroom.
Surprisingly, Wakiso and Kampala, which are the best performers in national examinations, were beaten to the sixth and 21st positions respectively.
The ranking, released by the Ministry of Education at a conference yesterday, rated Nakasongola as the second-best performing district followed by Bukwo, Lyantonde, Luweero, Wakiso, Mityana, Rukungiri, Bushenyi and Mbarara.
Amuru, Nakapiripirit, Kitgum and Bududa were identified as the worst performing districts. Others were Oyam, Maracha-Terego, Kaabong, Bulisa and Pader.
The worst performing districts had the most crowded classes, were understaffed and had poor completion rates.
Other overcrowded districts were Koboko, Moroto, Arua, Yumbe, Mayuge, Apac, Namutumba and Butaleja. With a completion rate of 80%, Wakiso was the best, meaning that only 20% of the pupils do not complete primary school. It was followed by Bukwo (71%), Mpigi (69%) and Iganga (65%).
Interestingly, only 54% of the pupils in Kampala complete primary education. Kaabong had the worst completion rate of 6% while Nakapiripirit , Moroto, Kalangala and Kotido were below 20%.
In most of the districts, the completion rates were higher for boys than for girls except in Luweero, Wakiso, Mityana and Masaka.
Understaffing was a problem in the districts of Lira, Amolatar, Nebbi, Butaleja, Kotido, Arua, Tororo and Pallisa.
Butaleja, with 118%, had the best rate at which children begin school.
Bukwo followed at 113% and Sembabule at 112%. This means they had more children enrolling in P1 as a percentage of six-year-olds. An official said these could have resulted from cross-migration from other districts during the time of the study.
The official added that children in Kampala and Wakiso districts could be enrolling in schools before the official age of six years.
Addressing the conference at the Colline Hotel, Mukono, education minister Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire said despite the massive investment in education by the Government, pupils do not acquire the desired competencies in literacy, numeracy and communication skills.
“It is not only the quantity which counts, but equally important is the quality,†Bitamazire said in a speech read by the state minister for higher education, Gabriel Opio.
Investment in education has risen from sh299b in 1998/1999 to sh767b this year out of which the primary education sub-sector share is 60%.
While the Government continues improving access, Bitamazire noted, the quality of education must be given high priority through targeted policies, funding and implementation strategies.
She said many stakeholders, including the beneficiaries and the general public, do not own education policies, which jeopardises the efforts towards quality education.
Permanent secretary Francis Lubanga said only 45.5% of pupils in Primary Three had acquired the prescribed literacy levels, while in Primary Six, the figure
He cited absenteeism of teachers and pupils as one cause of low quality education. Other factors, he said, are lack of accommodation for teachers, inadequate inspection, non-functional school management committees, larger classes and misuse of UPE capitation grants.
He noted that Primary education was a responsibility of local governments. “Time has come to hold CAOs and town clerks responsible for the quality of learning achievements,†he said.
KABALE was the best-performing district in the primary education sub-sector in 2006. The ranking took into account the number of pupils who complete primary school, the number of children joining Primary One at the right age of six years, the number of pupils per teacher and the number of pupils per classroom.
Surprisingly, Wakiso and Kampala, which are the best performers in national examinations, were beaten to the sixth and 21st positions respectively.
The ranking, released by the Ministry of Education at a conference yesterday, rated Nakasongola as the second-best performing district followed by Bukwo, Lyantonde, Luweero, Wakiso, Mityana, Rukungiri, Bushenyi and Mbarara.
Amuru, Nakapiripirit, Kitgum and Bududa were identified as the worst performing districts. Others were Oyam, Maracha-Terego, Kaabong, Bulisa and Pader.
The worst performing districts had the most crowded classes, were understaffed and had poor completion rates.
Other overcrowded districts were Koboko, Moroto, Arua, Yumbe, Mayuge, Apac, Namutumba and Butaleja. With a completion rate of 80%, Wakiso was the best, meaning that only 20% of the pupils do not complete primary school. It was followed by Bukwo (71%), Mpigi (69%) and Iganga (65%).
Interestingly, only 54% of the pupils in Kampala complete primary education. Kaabong had the worst completion rate of 6% while Nakapiripirit , Moroto, Kalangala and Kotido were below 20%.
In most of the districts, the completion rates were higher for boys than for girls except in Luweero, Wakiso, Mityana and Masaka.
Understaffing was a problem in the districts of Lira, Amolatar, Nebbi, Butaleja, Kotido, Arua, Tororo and Pallisa.
Butaleja, with 118%, had the best rate at which children begin school.
Bukwo followed at 113% and Sembabule at 112%. This means they had more children enrolling in P1 as a percentage of six-year-olds. An official said these could have resulted from cross-migration from other districts during the time of the study.
The official added that children in Kampala and Wakiso districts could be enrolling in schools before the official age of six years.
Addressing the conference at the Colline Hotel, Mukono, education minister Geraldine Namirembe Bitamazire said despite the massive investment in education by the Government, pupils do not acquire the desired competencies in literacy, numeracy and communication skills.
“It is not only the quantity which counts, but equally important is the quality,†Bitamazire said in a speech read by the state minister for higher education, Gabriel Opio.
Investment in education has risen from sh299b in 1998/1999 to sh767b this year out of which the primary education sub-sector share is 60%.
While the Government continues improving access, Bitamazire noted, the quality of education must be given high priority through targeted policies, funding and implementation strategies.
She said many stakeholders, including the beneficiaries and the general public, do not own education policies, which jeopardises the efforts towards quality education.
Permanent secretary Francis Lubanga said only 45.5% of pupils in Primary Three had acquired the prescribed literacy levels, while in Primary Six, the figure
He cited absenteeism of teachers and pupils as one cause of low quality education. Other factors, he said, are lack of accommodation for teachers, inadequate inspection, non-functional school management committees, larger classes and misuse of UPE capitation grants.
He noted that Primary education was a responsibility of local governments. “Time has come to hold CAOs and town clerks responsible for the quality of learning achievements,†he said.