By Obbo Yusuf
Ministry of Education and Sports through the directorate of education standards has embarked on training and equipping Uganda Inspectors of schools on school performance assessment model (SPA) with the aim of improving the education service delivery and e-inspection of schools.
The government of Uganda has been implementing reforms for local government financing under the Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers Reform Program to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of service delivery by frontline providers. To this, the Ministry of education and sports designed the School Performance Assessment (SPA) model which seeks to promote improvements in education service delivery against key service delivery standards that influence learning outcomes.
The model was piloted in FY 2021/22 in one hundred (100) Primary Schools selected from ten (10) Local Governments across the Country which helped the Ministry to identify areas for improvement and further training.
In order to roll out the model to all Local Governments, the ministry has embarked on training all inspectors of schools in a phased manner starting with Central Government Inspectors and District/Municipal/City Inspectors of Schools across the country.
On Thursday, hundreds of inspectors of schools across the country gathered in Jinja city at Jinja college school to participate in the training on school performance assessment Model.
While addressing inspectors of schools in Jinja , the chairperson for the directorate of education standards Ms Atima Frances said that with the assistance of the system, inspectors shall be in position to track best performing schools and head teachers
“We hope that you will recognize the best performing schools and we ask different local governments to use different mechanisms of collecting data using the system. Inspectors must assess the school performance right from the gateman to the field of games and sports ’’ said Atima
She also applauded the five best teachers who were identified as the best teachers using the TELA system while celebrating the teacher’s days.
According to Stalin Musimenta , the IT specialist at Directorate of Education standards said the training is aimed at equipping the inspectors with knowledge and skills on assessment of School Performance, Practical sessions on how to use the e-inspection and TELA System to improve learning outcomes.
“This will be used to assess schools on their performance and will be done electronically using the smart tablets that have been provided to every inspector in different local government areas ,inspectors will log in and use the tool to collect evidence based on assessment and it’s very good approach that government has tested to help on performance checks. We have also received reports from school inspectors and school heads that TELA system has greatly improved on teachers attendance and lessons conduct in time thus reducing absenteeism of teachers in schools and we hope to yield the best out of these introduced innovations by ministry of education” Musimenta said
He also cautioned inspectors and school heads that are misusing the gadgets distributed to them, saying that they are not personal belonging but rather equipment of the ministry given to them to be used in improving monitoring and performance.
“This warning goes to those inspectors of schools and school heads who have turned ministry’s smart phones and tabs into personal property ,by tempting to use them for other non-intended purposes ,please we are watching you from the center and u will be charged for miss using the property meant for other national important purpose ’’Says Musimenta
This system focuses on core performance measures and indicators drawn from the four quality pillars of primary inspection to ensure mutually reinforcing linkages between the school assessment, the integrated inspection system and other pertinent ICT systems in the Education sector.
The chairperson of all Uganda Inspectors of schools Ms Ayebazibwe Keleni has appealed to inspectors to carry out their work as required not to pass time in schools and offices as the system is ready to report who is doing his /her work great .
Inspectors have lauded Mama Janet and the ministry of education at large for introducing innovations aimed at improving on service delivery for the education system in Uganda.
Bosco Odonkara, the district inspector of schools for Agago district said the ministry of education introduced TELA, system a time on task Performance Management System that uses a smartphone with Global Positioning System (GPS) and Biometric features which he says the system is helping them monitor real-time Teachers, leaners and Head Teachers attendance and time table implementation in all government aided schools and schools have improved.
.He addsthat “now with the School performance Assessment Model designed to assist inspectors of schools ,schools performance reports reaches the center in time and with this the government is able to realize the strength and weakness of every school”
The Government of Uganda has over the years been investing significant resources to ensure that the country attains a high quality Education and Sports sector and the purpose of the School Performance Assessment (SPA) System is to promote improvements in education service delivery by linking performance improvement support and the size of the capitation grant allocation.
