Team work, supervision and regular monitoring in schools are key in improving performance of learners. These and more were words from the former Member of Parliament, Burahya county honorable Steven Kagwera Kasaija when he was hosted on ToroDev’s supported weekly radio program ‘Listeners Forum’ on Jubilee Fm.
The weekly live radio program is run for 2 hours every Sunday (8-10pm). Hon Kagwera on 3rd February 2019 was hosted alongside Mr Kyaligonza John a former teacher and now the Sub county chairperson Kabonero Sub County and Mr. Ntawangwa George a senior citizen from Nyabani in Kamwenge district to analyze the 2018 UCE results at regional level and country as a whole.
Hon Kagwera acknowledged that there is limited monitoring, supervision, inspection and limited facilitation in secondary schools and that these factors a long side others have contributed to poor performance in Uganda Certificate of Education Examination (UCE) in the region and in the whole country.
Hon Kagwera while commenting on the performance of learners said 2018 UCE results in the Rwenzori region was not good for example a whole district like Ntoroko is listed among the poorest performing districts having got only 1 candidate in division 1 yet it registered over 700 candidates. The former member of parliament said poor performance cannot be attributed to a single factor mentioning that poor education facilities, insufficient staffing, limited infrastructure, limited learning materials, limited schools in sub counties, etc could have contributed to poor performance. He urged government and civil society organizations to team up with other stakeholders in education to tackle hindrances that affect education in the country since it is a key sector in a country’s development.
Mr Kyaligonza John said much as there is increase on candidates passing UCE in 2018 (288387) compared to 287350 in 2017, the pass rate declined from 91 percent in 2017 to 87.2 percent in 2018. Mr Kyaligonza attributed this to poor facilities in schools, failure of parents to fully support their children in education but also valuing education.
Mr Kyaligonza called for team work of all education stakeholders on sensitizing parents on appreciating the role of education, keeping their children in schools and stopping absenteeism. He advised stakeholders in education to advise government to change the curriculum such that children can learn practical skills where they can be able to create their own employment and improve their living standards by being job creators than job seekers.
Mr Ntawangwa George while giving his final remarks during the live radio discussion said emphasis should be put on improving science subjects by furnishing school laboratories and libraries that support practical subjects. He further added that technocrats should work hand in hand with government through district officials to improve education facilitation by constructing secondary schools in every Sub county, building staff quarters to reduce teacher’s absenteeism and late coming, scholastic materials and increase teachers’ salaries to motivate them to enjoy and do their work effectively.
During the two (2) hours live discussion callers were given opportunity to participate through call ins and SMS: “There is limited staff quarters in government aided secondary schools in Uganda which has demotivated teachers and they end up not going to teach or reporting late at school” Said Salongo Kasozi a caller from Kicwamba in Kabarole district, ‘’Government should increase on the funds allocated in education sector if they are to improve education standards in the country”, Said Rajab Kasule a caller from Hakibale sub county, Kabarole district, “Government has failed to increase education facilitation and this has increased poor performance within the sector“, Said Mr Baguma Mugurusi a caller from Rugombe, Kyenjojo district.
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