Teachers' performance drops, mathematics worst done subject

Jun 17, 2015

Teachers’ performance in last year’s Grade III teachers’ exams dropped, with mathematics the worst done subject. According to the results released on Tuesday, 71% of the 11,810 students passed compared to 77% the previous year.

By Innocent Anguyo

Teachers’ performance in last year’s Grade III teachers’ exams dropped, with mathematics being the worst done subject.


According to the results released on Tuesday, there was a decline in the pass rate as 71% of the 11,810 students passed compared to 77% the previous year.

The results were released by the minister of higher education, science and technology- Prof. Sandy Stevens Tickodri-Togboa at the ministry’s headquarters in Kampala.

Prof. Eli Katunguka, the vice chancellor of Kyambogo University which conducted the assessment said for last year’s Grade III exams, 11,810 registered, posting a 15.84% increment from 2013’s 10,195.

Girls trounced boys in the exams; out of the 8,391 candidates who passed, 58% (4,867) were female and the remaining 42% (3,524) were male.

There was also a marked improvement in the performance of females from 51% pass rate in 2013, to 58% in 2014.

However, the best student was male-Herbert Wasswa from Kabulasoke Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) who scored aggregate 12 out of the possible 9 and an 'A' in School Practice.

Katunguka identified the best done subjects as professional education studies, agriculture, social studies, and music - all registering a pass rate of over 99%.

Mathematics and Kiswahili were the worst done- with a failure rate of 12% and 10% respectively. The failed papers have to be retaken within two years.

Tickodri-Togboa noted that the poor performance in mathematics could be as a result of poor methods of teaching, and the misconception among learners that it is difficult.

“We need to lay more emphasis on Kiswahili as we head towards full integration in the East African Community. We definitely need to find a way of making maths interesting and easy for leaners,” said Tickodri-Togboa.

“In order to modernise Uganda, the teacher must be knowledgeable in the key subjects such as mathematics, science and English language which is the main medium of teaching and communication internationally.”

Katunguka attributed the less-impressive performance in maths to laziness among learners, saying students of today are quick to settle for easy learning areas that don’t require much effort.

Dr. Grace Lubaale, the head of the department of teacher education at Kyambogo University said most of today’s students aren’t passionate about problem-solving subjects such as mathematics.

Elizabeth Gabona, the education ministry official in charge of technical education urged parents to monitor the progress of their children and help them to improve in class - on grounds that education starts at home.

The best performing institutions in the 2014 exams are Bulera, Soroti, Kiyoora, Rakai and Kitgum PTCs - all attaining a pass rate of over 90%.

While, Busoga University, St. John The Baptist, Ggaba, Moyo-Erepi, Christ the King, Gulu, Lutete, Yei and Kapchorwa PTCs were listed as those have performed the poorest.

Win Hope Tukamuheebwa, the senior assistant registrar in charge of PTCs section at Kyambogo University said some of the above institutions such as Yei and Moyo-Erepi registered poor performance because they are yet emerging from the shadows of political instability in their vicinities.

Others, Tukamuheebwa noted are private institutions that admit students with the weakest of the minimum requirements just to fill classrooms.

Equally, some failures were attributed to the slow adaptation of candidates and schools to the new curriculum launched in 2013.

Katunguka said PTCs’ principals can pick results of their respective institutions starting today, at Kyambogo University.

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