A Study On Universal Primary Education and Pupils' Performance of Selected Primary Schools in Kirewa Sub County

ABSTRACT .. -- In educational system, primary education is the core offering a foundation where all the proceeding education (higher levels) is laid upon when the student is still young but very receptive. To be successful in this education its quality should be emphasized by all the stakeholders. , In some sections of the society especially in rural areas, this vital education is not given its due regard resulting into low performance. The study on UPE and pupils' performance in the selected primary schools in Kirewa Sub County, Tororo district 2001-2005 was chosen for the investigation. The objectives of the study was to determine the level of pupils' performance in these selected schools. However, the findings suggested that UPE programme was a failure as most pupils did not pass PLE to continue with their education due to the prevailing conditions such as inadequate classrooms, no seating facilities, no lunch provision, low qualification of teachers, big class size in these schools. These were the problems for which this study is seeking to establish the answers for the quality of the Universal Primary Education can be improved upon. Different schools of thought were consulted to affirm the conditions under which these Universal Primary Education (UPE) schools operate in order to modify and get solutions for them so as to realize better results. These results were examined for comparison, analysis and gave possible recommendations and suggestions to better the existing performances in these schools.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Tables of content ...................................................................................................... i

Approval sheet. ........................................................................................................ iv

Declaration ............................................................................................................... v

Dedication ............................................................................................................... vi

Acknowledgement. ................................................................................................. vii

Acronym and abbreviations ................................................................................... viii

Abstract .................................................................................................................... x

CHAPTER 1 ............................. a ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• 1

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 1

Background of the study .......................................................................................... 1

Uganda's education cycle ...................................................................................... 3

Rationale of the study .............................................................................................. 5

Theory of the study .................................................................................................. 8

The statement of the problem ........................................................................... 12

Objectives of the study ......................................................................................... 19

Scope of the study ................................................................................................. 20

Significance of the study ....................................................................................... 20

Research questions ............................................................................................... 21

Statement of Hypothesis ........................................................................................ 21

Definition of terms ................................................................................................. 22

Conceptual framework ........................................................................................... 22

CHAPTER II ...................................................................................... 25

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE ................................................... 25

Introduction .......................................................................................................... 25

Basic issues to improve the quality of UPE performance ..................................... 25

Importance of education ...................................................................................... 28

Socio economic status of the family .................................................................... 31

The role of food in the body ................................................................................ 33

Home environment. .............................................................................................. 33

Parents' attitudes towards education ................................................................... 35

School environment. ............................................................................................... 37

Importance of home work to students .................................................................. 38

Discipline and democracy in schools .................................................................... .39

Teachers' remuneration ......................................................................................... 41

Inspection and supervision of schools ................................................................... 42

Assessment and evaluation ................................................................................... 43

CHAPTER III ..................................................................................... 44

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ........................................ ···••a••·· ••••••••••••• 44

Research strategy .................................................................................................. 44

Research design .................................................................................................... 44

Environment. ......................................................................................................... 45

Respondents .......................................................................................................... 45

Instruments ........................................................................................................... 45

Data gathering procedures .................................................................................... 46

Data collection method .......................................................................................... 46

Statistical treatment of data ................................................................................. .47

Limitation of study ................................................................................................. 48

Problems encountered ........................................................................................... 49

CHAPTER IV••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa SO

DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS ............................................... 50

Introduction ........................................................................................................... 50

Student population ................................................................................................. 50

Number of teachers .............................................................................................. 51

Number of classrooms ........................................................................................... 52

Teachers' qualifications ........................................................................................ 53

Teachers' experiences ........................................................................................... 54

Lunch provision ..................................................................................................... 55

11

PLE performance of selected schools (2001-2005) .............................................. 56

Grading of PLE performance by UNEB .................................................................. 60

Analysis of relationship between educational qualification of teachers and

performance ........................................................................................................... 62

CHAPTER V ••.••.•.•.•.••.•.••.•.•••.•••...•.•.••.••••..•••.••..•.•.••..•. a••····••a••············63

IMPLICATION OF THE STUDY ............. a••············•·······························63

Implication of findings for theory/policy/practice ................................................. 63

Student population ................................................................................................. 63

Number of teachers and classroom accommodation ............................................ 64

Lunch provision in school. ...................................................................................... 67

Performance of selected schools ........................................................................... 69

CHAPTER VI ..................................................................................... 71

GENERAL CONCLUSION, RECOMMENDATIONS AND SUGGESTIONS ................. .71

Conclusion .............................................................................................................. 71

Recommendation ................................................................................................... 72

Suggestions ........................................................................................................... 73

Bibliography ........................................................................................................... 74

Appendix A- Transmittal letter ................................................................................. .

Appendix B- Interview schedules ............................................................................ ..

Appendix C- Map of Uganda ..................................................................................... .

Appendix D- Map of Tororo District ......................................................................... ..