Gulu
Statistics released by the Uganda National Examination Board portrayed a rising decline in the standard of primary education countrywide.
In 2007, out the 443,554 candidates who sat for PLE, 192,757 (46 per cent) – passed in Division 2. While 90,060 (21.5 per cent) passed in Division 3. However, in last year’s PLE, statistics indicate that close to half the number that passed in 2007, failed. The news only serve to clear any hope the northern Uganda, which trailed in the previous years’ results would get better results this time.
Like in previous years, in 2007, urban schools scored better than the rural ones. Mbarara municipality topped the list, with 39.7 per cent of all candidates passing in Grade 1. It was followed by Masaka Municipality (39.4 per cent), Fort Portal (37.8 per cent), Kabale (31.3 per cent), Lira (30.6 per cent), Entebbe (29.2 per cent) and Kampala (23.7 per cent).
Only Lira was able to put the region on the map that year. But the Lira District Education Officer, Mr Quinto Okello, said he is worried about the outcome of the results because his district had a lot of challenges. “If the exams were generally done poorly all over the country, then Lira will not be an exception,” Mr Okello said, citing frequent abseentism by teachers, lack of accommodation and child labour. “In fact these and many other problems made it hard for our schools to complete the syllabus,” he added. Gulu and Moyo were among the worst performing districts in the previous year.
The District Education Officer of Apac, Mr Billy Okunyo, said he does not expect their pupils to perform well. He said the pupils had not been able to do weekly tests fairly although they tried their level best. “Our parents have been supportive but the UPE policy, which encourages pupils of low average to sit, may lead Apac into failure,” Mr Okunyo said. He complained that school grants were little making some schools to raise their own money for some activities.
Separately, the assistant DEO for Pader, Mr Paul Okidi, expressed confidence that this year’s results would change the poor result record it had last year. He said last year the district had managed to get 83 in first grade and 1,300 in second grade adding that the district will this time excel. “This year’s results will improve by a little margin but not double and this is a happy moment in my life,” he said.
On her part, the Gulu Woman MP, Ms Betty Ocan, said the performance will improve when all the schools at the areas of return get committed teachers. “Some schools in Acholi sub-region operate with only two teachers,” she said and urged the community to work with the government in ensuring that the teachers are in schools in time by helping in setting up staff quarters.
Speaking to Daily Monitor yesterday after the release of results, the Amuru Secretary for Education, Mr Gilbert Olanya, said he expects an improvement in this year’s PLE results because of the efforts they put into the sector. “We really tried our best to see that the pupils get good education,” he said. Parents of Amuru had for a long time taken education for granted with many preferring their children to tend to siblings or garden work to going to school.
Aditional reporting by Sam Lawino, Cissy Makumbi and Justine Wamboka
Statistics released by the Uganda National Examination Board portrayed a rising decline in the standard of primary education countrywide.
In 2007, out the 443,554 candidates who sat for PLE, 192,757 (46 per cent) – passed in Division 2. While 90,060 (21.5 per cent) passed in Division 3. However, in last year’s PLE, statistics indicate that close to half the number that passed in 2007, failed. The news only serve to clear any hope the northern Uganda, which trailed in the previous years’ results would get better results this time.
Like in previous years, in 2007, urban schools scored better than the rural ones. Mbarara municipality topped the list, with 39.7 per cent of all candidates passing in Grade 1. It was followed by Masaka Municipality (39.4 per cent), Fort Portal (37.8 per cent), Kabale (31.3 per cent), Lira (30.6 per cent), Entebbe (29.2 per cent) and Kampala (23.7 per cent).
Only Lira was able to put the region on the map that year. But the Lira District Education Officer, Mr Quinto Okello, said he is worried about the outcome of the results because his district had a lot of challenges. “If the exams were generally done poorly all over the country, then Lira will not be an exception,” Mr Okello said, citing frequent abseentism by teachers, lack of accommodation and child labour. “In fact these and many other problems made it hard for our schools to complete the syllabus,” he added. Gulu and Moyo were among the worst performing districts in the previous year.
The District Education Officer of Apac, Mr Billy Okunyo, said he does not expect their pupils to perform well. He said the pupils had not been able to do weekly tests fairly although they tried their level best. “Our parents have been supportive but the UPE policy, which encourages pupils of low average to sit, may lead Apac into failure,” Mr Okunyo said. He complained that school grants were little making some schools to raise their own money for some activities.
Separately, the assistant DEO for Pader, Mr Paul Okidi, expressed confidence that this year’s results would change the poor result record it had last year. He said last year the district had managed to get 83 in first grade and 1,300 in second grade adding that the district will this time excel. “This year’s results will improve by a little margin but not double and this is a happy moment in my life,” he said.
On her part, the Gulu Woman MP, Ms Betty Ocan, said the performance will improve when all the schools at the areas of return get committed teachers. “Some schools in Acholi sub-region operate with only two teachers,” she said and urged the community to work with the government in ensuring that the teachers are in schools in time by helping in setting up staff quarters.
Speaking to Daily Monitor yesterday after the release of results, the Amuru Secretary for Education, Mr Gilbert Olanya, said he expects an improvement in this year’s PLE results because of the efforts they put into the sector. “We really tried our best to see that the pupils get good education,” he said. Parents of Amuru had for a long time taken education for granted with many preferring their children to tend to siblings or garden work to going to school.
Aditional reporting by Sam Lawino, Cissy Makumbi and Justine Wamboka
http://www.monitor.co.ug/artman/publish/news/Northern_Uganda_sends_mixed_reaction_on_results_78357.shtml
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