By Obbo Yusuf
SOROTI-TESO
The Ministry of Education, through the Directorate of Education Standards (DES), has launched a targeted training program aimed at improving educational outcomes in 20 districts from Northern and Eastern Uganda, which recorded the poorest performance in the 2023 Primary Leaving Examination (PLE). The three-day training, which is currently taking place at Teso College in Soroti City, brings together school inspectors and District Education Officers (DEOs) from ten districts in each region.
According to a report by the Directorate of Education Standards, many of the schools in these regions faced significant challenges, resulting in subpar PLE results. To address these issues, the Ministry has designed the training to strengthen the capacity of inspectors in using tools that will improve school oversight, boost teacher attendance, and enhance monitoring of school performance.
Ms. Frances Atima, the Director of Education Standards, emphasized that the training is crucial for building the skills of school inspectors in order to drive improvements in the worst-performing districts. “This training will equip inspectors with hands-on skills to effectively use the Integrated Inspection System (IIS), which allows for real-time data collection and better decision-making, ultimately improving learning outcomes in the targeted areas,” she said.
In the course of the training, District Education Officers (DEOs), led by Ms. Joyce Lanyero, the DEO for Amuru, identified key challenges that hinder performance. One significant issue was the lack of transportation for inspectors to effectively carry out field visits. Many districts lack reliable vehicles, and those that do have them report mechanical problems. Ms. Lanyero suggested that providing motorcycles and vehicles for inspectors could make a substantial difference in their ability to monitor schools and improve performance on the ground.
“The priority for improving learning outcomes must include transportation. It would be highly beneficial if the Ministry could procure motorcycles and vehicles to facilitate school inspection and monitoring,” Ms. Lanyero urged.
Nabirye Leticia, one of the inspectors who attended the training, shared her optimism about the skills gained during the workshop. “The training has enhanced our ability to monitor schools effectively, and we hope to improve our oversight and make a real difference in the schools we serve,” she said.
However, the inspectors raised concerns about political interference in school management. They reported that some school owners with political influence were not adhering to Ministry guidelines, which threatens the integrity of educational standards in the districts. Inspectors noted being threatened by powerful politicians who run schools that do not meet the required standards.
Addressing these challenges, Dr. Turyagyenda Kedrace, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, encouraged inspectors to use the tools provided by the Ministry to monitor and track data effectively. “If the system is used properly, it will help us identify schools that are not following the guidelines, track attendance, and ensure that both pupils and teachers are meeting the necessary standards,” Dr. Turyagyenda said.
The Ministry’s targeted intervention aims to tackle the persistent challenges in education, providing inspectors with the support and resources needed to ensure better performance in the most underserved districts.
