Nationwide, students of all grades struggle to meet the national test requirements, with the majority dropping out of school before making it to the secondary level. Some of the factors causing this are: overcrowded classrooms; lack of access to textbooks or classroom tools; poor nutrition; unclean water; lack of government funding and; lack of basic needs like water, food or sleep.
These are the basics.
If we are to get into the nitty gritty of things, our system does not promote logical thinking, or inclusive, participatory and practical teaching. The lack of a reading culture or promotion of extra-curricular activities, especially in primary schools while the brain and body is at its best, is also a setback to a well rounded education. It can be assumed that the problem may not necessarily lie within the curriculum but rather, in the implementation of it.
So the question for the Thursday Freethought meeting is this:
It is being reported that schools in Uganda are failing the students. Discuss with reasons for or against and alternative solutions to improve the situation.
By Lindsey Kukunda
If you are an open minded person whose opinions are formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason and are interested in meeting like-minded individuals – you are welcome to join us at the meeting.
The September 2011 Freethinkers’ Night is going to take place on Thursday, 29th September, at 4 Points Bar & Restaurant, Centenary Park, Kampala, starting 6PM. Entrance is FREE.
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Freethought Kampala 
2 comments
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September 30, 2011 at 6:45 pm
Kamugisha ndahiro
implementation of the curriculum is one thing but i too find the curriculum itself very weak. Its so dogmatic, theoretical and does not in any way encourage innovation. It stil makes our children think that, when you go to school, you gonna work hard, get good jobs and look for a well paying job! Three quits of my fellow classmates almost had that very idea… Moreover in a science class. They never stop to ask, who’s gonna create those jobs for us…? But still that comes from the way the curriculum is designed… You gonna teach your student all sorts of theoretical sciences, and he’s never stepped in a laboratory to exercise his or her creativity, what do you expect? From primary level, to the university… U are learning the theory, most of which is applicable in countries that have the relevant technology and you ask why there is lots of brain drainage!!
I swear i can count the number of times i went for a practice at the university, and on some occasions there were no agents to use…
We have created more theory schools at the advanced level, and forgotten about the polytechnics for practical work. An average student in uganda would rather be taught how to be a mechanic than being an IT student, who cant write and run a simple programme
September 30, 2011 at 9:00 pm
lillian nsk
I believe the curriculum isn’t the problem. Its the implementation that’s the problem. I think its a systems problem, involving via major components of the system including
1 the workforce(skills and numbers),
2 infrastructure (classrooms, furniture, textbooks),
3 governance (eg how many of the heads of schools have even basic administration/management skills)
4 Financing of education (need I say more??)
5 information management (how many ghost schools, ghost teachers etc do we have. I wouldn’t be too surprised if there are even ghost districts. Are we sure all kids in the system are even ugandan? We don’t even have an information system to identify who is a ugandan.,..
The curriculum is actualy quite good when you go through it…