Dear folks,
Many opinions expressed on this forum have spanned a range
of approaches for thinking about, and working to improve quality of education
in our region. May I ask; does someone have a researched document highlighting
some of the key causes of the declining performance in our schools? If yes, may
we share such write-up so that it can give an impetus to the kind of
intervention/seminar/workshop
the WNF is about to organize.
I know, we have heard testimonies from teachers, students,
parents and many others who partake in the education systems of our region, but
I still belief that testimonies without empirical data may not provide us with
better insights into how we can jointly rescue the sinking boat.
Fagil Mande the Chairman UNEB may have lambasted “mediocrity”,
as the main cause of the poor performance in schools, but unfortunately,
himself as a senior educationist may not have even suggested ways to kick such
mediocrity out of the system. Is it because of the liberalization
of the education sector, or it’s a caste system in schools? Yes, mediocre
students go to mediocre schools to be taught by mediocre teachers.
I’m of the view that if we had reliable information on the main
causes of the declining
performance(although this is likely to vary from district to district or even
from school to school) we would then be able
to make recommendations after examining the broad perspectives such as the
socio-cultural environment in which our students study; policy and political
frame-works etc.
Some districts like Arua took the first steps and developed
the Education Ordinance, but the question is; what is the impact of such
legislation?
Maybe it’s still too early to ask.
Otherwise, if not well planned, we risk recycling the old
stories we hear on the radios about the usual low grades without anything
significantly novel.
Good Weekend,
Kefa Atibuni
________________________________
From: Robert Ejiku <ejikurob...@gmail.com>
To: A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile <westnilenet@kym.net>
Sent: Friday, March 1, 2013 9:40 AM
Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] WEST NILE EDUCATION CONFRENCE
Caleb,
You have said it even better. A convention, workshop oof any type would
certainly bring some change but how committed are those who may not be sharing
this problem with us right now? For instance does the CAO Arua or Nebbi think
this is a problem? When you invite them at the hour of need they will send you
one of those reps of theirs who may not even report back let alone direct
policy or implementation at any stage. Its true we can not get everyone but
thier commitment is paramount.
Secondly such a convention needs alot of planning to realize the desired goals
and that means time. Lets plan pray over it and implement. June is my earliest
preference.
Thank you, off to a meeting shortly and will be in touch later even on phone
with some of you.
Ejiku
On Thu, Feb 28, 2013 at 9:06 PM, Caleb Alaka <calebal...@yahoo.com> wrote:
Prof. Robert, I read your essay with tears, at times I feel like refusing to
register my SIM cards and allowing to be switched off by UCC to avoid uncalled
for heartaches from our region. Again the prospect of loosing business looms
larger as a threat to the existence of my survival if my phone is switched off
by UCC. Any way. Robert, if modern medicine fails to cure a strange disease or
a long ailment, human beings resort to everything under the sky including,
mysticism, witch crafty, superstition, spiritualism, salvation and mention it.
The truth is all these are in most cases desperate measures, and believe you
me, may be it gives a sense of hope. For donkey years, we have hoofed, puffed
and gaffed over the death of education in our region. Fagil Mande the Chairman
UNEB on TV lambasted mediocrity, and boldly stated that if you have mediocre
teachers, who teach mediocre students in a mediocre school the results will
surely be mediocre. I am not
accusing any teacher since those are not my words. But those words sum up our
situation. Prof, you, me and the rest have intervened in everything that
affects us, if we had a convention say hosted in one of the schools, we invite
all stake holders including Fagil Mande, we have two serious days of
deliberation, we invite all head teachers from West Nile Schools or their
representatives, business men, LC3, and V chairpersons, Education officers,
RDCs, parents representatives, CAO's ourselves and MPs, Student representatives
and we come up with resolutions which districts in West Nile can adopt as
working documents including schools, and may be Government inclusive, then we
see no change in attitudes of students, parents and school administrators and
if we do not see improvement in results, I will gladly say, we did our part and
may be resort to only prayers. Sorry these issues can only be expressed in form
of essays.
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>On Feb 28, 2013, at 4:27 PM, aggrey adrale <fetagrey2...@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:
>
>
>Caleb, Elly, et al,
>>
>>
>>I like the way all of you have reacted or responded to this alarming report.
>>As correctly observed, "...Nyapea is on its death bed." It is true, not only
>>St. Alloysius College, but several other schools are in that same bracket;
>>laying in state for us to pay our last respects to them before their burial.
>>
>>
>>Also true, not only are the academic standards falling but also the
>>infrastructure holding the delicate potential intellectuals are crumbling and
>>some buildings silting up! School administrators even portray incognisance of
>>such gradual decay, yet they have the student labour resource to mitigate
>>some of the infrastructure challenges then there is little wonder they even
>>cast a blind eye to the decaying academic standards; and no doubt their
>>administrative acumen.
>>
>>
>>By the way what has become of the long promised Government of Uganda
>>conceived infrastructure rehabilitation projects of these prominent schools
>>in West Nile, Mvara, Nyapea, Ombaci? Is it true, furniture was delivered to
>>some of the schools even without improvements of the housing infrastructure?
>>This may not be the issue for now but suffice it to add that our formerly
>>shining schools do not cast any image of academic confidence and assurance
>>any more.
>>
>>
>>The 'shipping' of our bright pupils/students to schools in Kampala, Mpigi,
>>Wakiso and other districts, truly is taking a big toll but we have no choice
>>at the moment if we have to set our children for the future competitive mode.
>>You may even note many of the best performing schools in Kampala, Mpigi,
>>Wakiso and other districts have a appreciable numbers of West Nilers staffing
>>their teaching positions.
>>
>>
>>When the time is ripe, I would particularly be interested to discuss "the
>>'shipment' of pupils/students to study in other regions/districts and its
>>impact on the West Nile Economy", in the proposed WEST NILE EDUCATION
>>CONFERENCE.
>>
>>
>>Let us have an intervention this time round.
>>
>>
>>Aggrey Adrale
>>
>>
>>
>>--- On Thu, 28/2/13, Nayenda Elly <ellynaye...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>
>>>From: Nayenda Elly <ellynaye...@yahoo.com>
>>>Subject: [WestNileNet] WEST NILE EDUCATION CONFRENCE
>>>To: "A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile" <westnilenet@kym.net>
>>>Date: Thursday, 28 February,
2013, 10:25
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>West Nilers,
>>>Thanks for this platform were issues affecting the region are raised and
>>>discussed.
>>>A few facts about education in West Nile is that our traditional schools
>>>that we glorified in the past no longer hold onto that glory. Nyapea is on
>>>its death bed, others are struggling in the shadow of the past. Worse of all
>>>all bright pupils are 'shipped' down to Kampala and Wakiso districts and
>>>what is left behind is what we teachers have to process into the best we all
>>>want. The results tell a lot about our education row material, processing
>>>and output.
>>>Blame and lamentation is just breeding human resource disaster we shall
>>>surely reap in the nearest future.
>>>May i propose that West Nile Foundation spear heads organizing an Education
>>>Conference to critically discuss the falling education standards
based on facts and figures and chart a viable way
forward. This will help us mitigate the disaster.
>>>I look forward to making my input especially as somebody who is in the
>>>education field of play as a teacher.
>>>Keep up the struggle folks. West Nile is ours and we have the responsibility
>>>of offering it the best to be the best.
>>>Thanks and God Bless West Nile.
>>>Elly
>>>--- On Wed, 2/27/13, tabua butagira <tbutag...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>>From: tabua butagira <tbutag...@yahoo.com>
>>>>Subject: Re: [WestNileNet] A-Level Results WN Results - Pg 8 Monitor
>>>>To: "George Afi Obitre-Gama" <gobi...@yahoo.com>, "A Virtual Network for
>>>>friends of West Nile" <westnilenet@kym.net>
>>>>Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 10:11 PM
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Morning Eng.,
>>>>
>>>>I have decided to reply the mail only to you. Our Bureau Chief yesterday
>>>>sent a story indicating one of Arua's best A-level student was an Ediofe
>>>>Girls' SS candidate who obtained 17.
>>>>
>>>>I did call Ombaci HM who referred me to the deputy (in-charge academics),
>>>>and he told me Ombaci's best was a Science student with 17 points, but the
>>>>full results would not be available until today or tomorrow.
>>>>
>>>>Our Bureau Chief guys were not able to obtain the Mvara or any other
>>>>results. Part of the problem might be that our school administrators are
>>>>not fast in getting out the results and making it public.
>>>>
>>>>Regards,
>>>>Tabu
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>--- On Wed, 2/27/13, George Afi Obitre-Gama <gobi...@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>From: George Afi Obitre-Gama <gobi...@yahoo.com>
>>>>>Subject: [WestNileNet] A-Level Results WN Results - Pg 8 Monitor
>>>>>To: "A Virtual Network for friends of West Nile" <westnilenet@kym.net>
>>>>>Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013, 9:11 PM
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Brethren,
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I have gone through the today's Monitor list(pg 8) of A-level rankings one
>>>>>by one(1-273) without seeing our prominent schools in West Nile apart from
>>>>>Mvara SS which is ranked a whooping no. 187!!! I don't see Ombaci, Muni,
>>>>>Nyapea and others and they happen not be listed - probably my eyes are
>>>>>getting old!!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>Tabu Butagira should probably clarify if another list exists - otherwise I
>>>>>see the performance as already pathetic not withstanding the fact that the
>>>>>best P7 Pupil in West Nile got an agg 7.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>I am very angry and annoyed. What is happening? Are we not engaging our
>>>>>youngsters enough!!
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>-----Inline Attachment Follows-----
>>>>>
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