Something has gone wrong - Experts
Sep 14, 2010
THE Universal Primary Education (UPE) has had tremendous success since its introduction in 1997. However, it has also faced several challenges, especially those related to the quality of education.
By Gilbert Kidimu
THE Universal Primary Education (UPE) has had tremendous success since its introduction in 1997. However, it has also faced several challenges, especially those related to the quality of education.
While the Auditor General in his latest report has blamed the poor quality on inadequate inspection, experts believe there are other factors behind the falling standards as well.
Dr. Anthony Mugagga of Educational Foundations and Management, whose institution did a study on the primary sub-sector in eastern, western and northern Uganda, says UPE shortcomings stem from its inception.
“The standards in UPE were never there in the first place because no proper baseline study was done to ascertain a proper implementation framework,†Mugagga says.
Besides poor inspection, Mugagga says political interference resulting into conflicting directives has made it difficult for the other stakeholders to effectively play their roles.
He adds that the money the Government pays for UPE pupils barely exceeds sh1,000; which is not worth a single meal. Many of the pupils also come from poor families, which cannot afford scholastic materials and other essentials.
Large classes and lack of meals in schools are other drawbacks that have affected quality, he says.
Mugagga says school drop out levels have always remained high especially during certain seasons. “In Kabale, during the planting season, children stay back to help out. In Busitema, children stay home to harvest rice, he says.
Beatrice Magoola, the Iganga Woman MP and a former head teacher, says poor remuneration of teachers has dented their morale.
“Teachers are paid so little to do a good job in class. As standards of living are rising by the day, sh200,000 is very little. As parents with their families to raise, teachers have to find other ways of making ends meet,†she says.
Besides, Magoola says this money is sent to schools very late. In the past, although teachers earned little, the Government contributed to their living conditions: “They had better facilities in form of housing. These contributed to their good performance,†says Magoola
According to Magoola, pupils also had at least a meal a day. During holidays, schools were used for in-service training; hence equipping teachers with better teaching skills. School inspectors visited schools regularly. Something has gone wrong.
Ruth Kavuma, the Kalangala Woman MP and veteran educationist, attributes the problem to parental apathy.
“Lack of parental supervision has a lot to do with the poor grades in UPE schools,†Kavuma says.
“Parents leave everything to do with their children’s education to the teachers. They do not bother to pay for or pack lunch for their children. This lack of lunch has in turn affected pupils academically,†she says.
She adds that teachers are not equipped with teaching materials. Many of them are not well trained to handle children.
In-service training for teachers on how to handle children is required. Disan Kuteesa, a lecturer of education at Kyambogo University, says field visits show that primary school teachers do not go to class.
“When you go to the field, you will find that many teachers do not do their work.
These teachers also says inspectors scarcely show up. This happens, in spite of the reports inspectors make at the end of every month,†he says.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM:
CARRY out Comprehensive human resource audit to meet requirements of increasing schools
The education ministry should put systems in place to motivate and retain inspectors
Have regular workshops and seminars for education officials
Immediate feedback on every school inspected
Regular reports on quality of education
Mandatory preparation of reports by inspectors
Train head teachers on school improvement plans
Measure performance of inspectors
Insist on annual and quarterly work plans
Recommendations
The Government should set up an independent evaluation of the implementation framework of UPE itself and enhance the role of education stakeholders have in supervising performance.
There is need for UPE quality control.
Service training of teachers on how to manage large classes.
The Government should also seriously consider constructing houses for teachers.
Review the policy of meals in schools
VIEWS FROM THE PUBLIC ON EDUCATION STANDARDS
Florence K.Balaba, a business woman
I think schools are not inspected properly. The people responsible just sit in their offices and never go to the schools to do their work. Teachers in government schools are overwhelmed by the huge number of pupils. It is hard to follow up individual children and guide them.
The teachers are also poorly motivated. They earn a meagre salary and they just teach for the sake of it. Their facilities are not good. The conditions under which they have to teach in have made the situation worse.
Simon Elepu, an accountant
I think there is embezzlement of Universal Primary Education funds. Because of this, schools lack the facilities required to boost high standards. In addition, there is lack of follow up. After the Government releases funds to implement UPE, there is no one to find out how they are being used.
Christopher Butareire, a lawyer
Recently, I was at a UPE school up country and what I saw is worrying. With over 200 children in one class, handled by merely two teachers, how do you expect good standards? Private schools proprietors will not let the standards drop because that would mean loss of students and money. There is laxity on the side of concerned parties, including parents who have thrown it all to the Government and do not make the smallest contribution, has worsened the situation.
David Ogwang, a social worker
The changing code of discipline has contributed to the falling standards. The kind of discipline we understood is mistaken as punishment these days. The new changes seem to embarrass the teacher and make students feel in charge. Additionally, there is a lack of responsibility among individuals who abuse government facilities.
Josephine Basirika, an accountant
I attribute the falling standards to the ‘I do not care’ attitude and the fact that the individuals concerned are not bothered.
Gerald Bukenya former chairman, Schools Management Committee:
After the introduction of UPE, parents have left all the responsibility of training children to the Government. They are complacent. In addition, inspectors take months without visiting schools, hence teachers and head teachers becoming lax.
Tom Kasule, inspector of Schools
Wakiso says the trend is slowly changing. “Wakiso for example has improved since Ministry of Education started facilitating Inspectors last year. Almost every school can be visited at least once a term. Every month we make reports and present them in meetings and find a way forward and disseminate our findings to all stakeholders.â€
Arnold Ntugwa, deputy head teacher, Buganda Road
Schools in Kampala are not as affected as those upcountry because they have easy accessibility. Inspection has taken place at Buganda Road Primary School because the the school is near the Ministry of Education. There were a number of inspectors who made reports last term.
Ida Kanywamusai, Coordinating Center Tutor, Lugazi.
School inspection is frustrated by the low funding and poor facilitation. There is only one vehicle per district and the motorcycles given to CCT’s almost 10 years ago have all broken down. How do you expect them to visit schools for inspection? Besides poor inspection, other factors leading to decline in performance include poor pay for teachers and huge classes. Some pupils also miss school due to domestic problems, distance from the school and poverty.
Rebecca Mabanja, deputy head teacher St Kizito Lugazi
Inspection is done but not as frequently as it should be. Some head teachers are incompetent and get away with it because inspectors don’t do their work well. Some inspectors will visit a school just for a while and leave almost immediately. Schools far from towns such as those on islands are almost completely ignored.
Compiled By Doreen Murungi and Gilbet Kidimu
THE Universal Primary Education (UPE) has had tremendous success since its introduction in 1997. However, it has also faced several challenges, especially those related to the quality of education.
While the Auditor General in his latest report has blamed the poor quality on inadequate inspection, experts believe there are other factors behind the falling standards as well.
Dr. Anthony Mugagga of Educational Foundations and Management, whose institution did a study on the primary sub-sector in eastern, western and northern Uganda, says UPE shortcomings stem from its inception.
“The standards in UPE were never there in the first place because no proper baseline study was done to ascertain a proper implementation framework,†Mugagga says.
Besides poor inspection, Mugagga says political interference resulting into conflicting directives has made it difficult for the other stakeholders to effectively play their roles.
He adds that the money the Government pays for UPE pupils barely exceeds sh1,000; which is not worth a single meal. Many of the pupils also come from poor families, which cannot afford scholastic materials and other essentials.
Large classes and lack of meals in schools are other drawbacks that have affected quality, he says.
Mugagga says school drop out levels have always remained high especially during certain seasons. “In Kabale, during the planting season, children stay back to help out. In Busitema, children stay home to harvest rice, he says.
Beatrice Magoola, the Iganga Woman MP and a former head teacher, says poor remuneration of teachers has dented their morale.
“Teachers are paid so little to do a good job in class. As standards of living are rising by the day, sh200,000 is very little. As parents with their families to raise, teachers have to find other ways of making ends meet,†she says.
Besides, Magoola says this money is sent to schools very late. In the past, although teachers earned little, the Government contributed to their living conditions: “They had better facilities in form of housing. These contributed to their good performance,†says Magoola
According to Magoola, pupils also had at least a meal a day. During holidays, schools were used for in-service training; hence equipping teachers with better teaching skills. School inspectors visited schools regularly. Something has gone wrong.
Ruth Kavuma, the Kalangala Woman MP and veteran educationist, attributes the problem to parental apathy.
“Lack of parental supervision has a lot to do with the poor grades in UPE schools,†Kavuma says.
“Parents leave everything to do with their children’s education to the teachers. They do not bother to pay for or pack lunch for their children. This lack of lunch has in turn affected pupils academically,†she says.
She adds that teachers are not equipped with teaching materials. Many of them are not well trained to handle children.
In-service training for teachers on how to handle children is required. Disan Kuteesa, a lecturer of education at Kyambogo University, says field visits show that primary school teachers do not go to class.
“When you go to the field, you will find that many teachers do not do their work.
These teachers also says inspectors scarcely show up. This happens, in spite of the reports inspectors make at the end of every month,†he says.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM:
Recommendations
VIEWS FROM THE PUBLIC ON EDUCATION STANDARDS
Florence K.Balaba, a business woman
I think schools are not inspected properly. The people responsible just sit in their offices and never go to the schools to do their work. Teachers in government schools are overwhelmed by the huge number of pupils. It is hard to follow up individual children and guide them.
The teachers are also poorly motivated. They earn a meagre salary and they just teach for the sake of it. Their facilities are not good. The conditions under which they have to teach in have made the situation worse.
Simon Elepu, an accountant
I think there is embezzlement of Universal Primary Education funds. Because of this, schools lack the facilities required to boost high standards. In addition, there is lack of follow up. After the Government releases funds to implement UPE, there is no one to find out how they are being used.
Christopher Butareire, a lawyer
Recently, I was at a UPE school up country and what I saw is worrying. With over 200 children in one class, handled by merely two teachers, how do you expect good standards? Private schools proprietors will not let the standards drop because that would mean loss of students and money. There is laxity on the side of concerned parties, including parents who have thrown it all to the Government and do not make the smallest contribution, has worsened the situation.
David Ogwang, a social worker
The changing code of discipline has contributed to the falling standards. The kind of discipline we understood is mistaken as punishment these days. The new changes seem to embarrass the teacher and make students feel in charge. Additionally, there is a lack of responsibility among individuals who abuse government facilities.
Josephine Basirika, an accountant
I attribute the falling standards to the ‘I do not care’ attitude and the fact that the individuals concerned are not bothered.
Gerald Bukenya former chairman, Schools Management Committee:
After the introduction of UPE, parents have left all the responsibility of training children to the Government. They are complacent. In addition, inspectors take months without visiting schools, hence teachers and head teachers becoming lax.
Tom Kasule, inspector of Schools
Wakiso says the trend is slowly changing. “Wakiso for example has improved since Ministry of Education started facilitating Inspectors last year. Almost every school can be visited at least once a term. Every month we make reports and present them in meetings and find a way forward and disseminate our findings to all stakeholders.â€
Arnold Ntugwa, deputy head teacher, Buganda Road
Schools in Kampala are not as affected as those upcountry because they have easy accessibility. Inspection has taken place at Buganda Road Primary School because the the school is near the Ministry of Education. There were a number of inspectors who made reports last term.
Ida Kanywamusai, Coordinating Center Tutor, Lugazi.
School inspection is frustrated by the low funding and poor facilitation. There is only one vehicle per district and the motorcycles given to CCT’s almost 10 years ago have all broken down. How do you expect them to visit schools for inspection? Besides poor inspection, other factors leading to decline in performance include poor pay for teachers and huge classes. Some pupils also miss school due to domestic problems, distance from the school and poverty.
Rebecca Mabanja, deputy head teacher St Kizito Lugazi
Inspection is done but not as frequently as it should be. Some head teachers are incompetent and get away with it because inspectors don’t do their work well. Some inspectors will visit a school just for a while and leave almost immediately. Schools far from towns such as those on islands are almost completely ignored.
Compiled By Doreen Murungi and Gilbet Kidimu