Administrators of private schools in the Masaka region are urging the government to provide direct assistance in procuring instructional materials necessary for conducting lessons and examinations under the new lower secondary curriculum.
Representing the Southern Buganda Private Schools Association, these administrators lament the significant cost of educational instructional materials, which they believe hinders their ability to effectively implement the new secondary school curriculum.
Ali Kaggwa Ddamulira, the association’s General Secretary and Deputy Headteacher of St Jude Secondary School Kyabakuza in Masaka City, points out that many Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination centers in private schools may struggle to furnish the required materials and experimental apparatus for their candidates due to affordability challenges.
This year, the inaugural batch of senior four candidates who have studied under the new curriculum will undertake their Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) final exams administered by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
The Ministry of Education and Sports has approved a new curriculum advocating for Computer Aided Learning (CAL) in various subjects, independent computer lessons, and experiment-based learning to enhance students’ competence.
Ddamulira notes that three years since its introduction, many private schools still face difficulties in acquiring the necessary materials and apparatus, which he believes will adversely affect candidates’ performance in their final exams.
He calls upon the government to consider providing education materials and apparatus to all private schools serving as UNEB centers to enable their candidates to adequately prepare for their final exams.
Ddamulira emphasizes that many private schools struggle to afford the required materials amidst competing demands in managing the schools. He suggests that government support through material subsidies or school grants would be beneficial.
Furthermore, Ddamulira expresses concerns regarding the constantly changing guidelines for conducting students’ skills development projects, highlighting the confusion among many teachers as final examinations draw near. He mentions plans to petition relevant agencies, including the Ministry of Education and Sports and UNEB, for clear and comprehensive guidelines to address this issue.
Daniel Isiko, the Headteacher of Notre-dame High School Kirinda in Nyendo-Mukungwe Division, mentions that they have temporarily addressed the situation by hiring part-time teachers from schools with adequate materials to impart knowledge and skills. However, he acknowledges that this improvised approach is not sustainable, particularly during the intense exam preparation period.
In the meantime, The Prism has learned that some administrators of private secondary schools in the area are tasking the parents with senior four candidates to pay additional fees for scientific experiments and joint seminars, ahead of the final exams.
