As
John Locke said, “Plants are developed by cultivation and men by education”
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| Participants at the RIDEAFRICA Press Conference held at Jerusalem Guest House, Fort Portal Municipality, 24th July, 2013 |
If you are
a leader out there and you have not been monitoring the schools in your area of
operation, it is absurd to blame the head teachers and teachers for poor
performance in schools. Yeah I believe poor service delivery is as a result of
leaders who have failed to their work. If you doubt my statement just imagine a
parish that has one school having 4 villages and each village has 9 leaders at
LC1 which makes a total of 36 individuals, LC2 has 9 leaders, the school has 11
members of the PTA and 12 members of the SMC with the parish having two area counselors (
male and Female) thus total of 70 individuals. If every leader committed him or herself to
visit the school at least once a term
because a term on average has 72 days without under estimating the work
of the CSO including religious leaders, parish chief, sub county authorities and the inspector of
schools. Am sure there would be no cases
of abseentism of teachers, ghost teachers, and mismanagement of UPE grant,
abseentism of pupils and misconduct of pupils which we are seeing today. With this my simple reason is that every day
a leader would be at school to supervise and the support the school authorities.
In a case study conducted by RIDE Africa on
monitoring and supervision by leaders in 19 primary schools out of 34 primary
schools in Burahya county where the RDC had visited only one school yet the
Local Government Act 1998 and Education Act 2008 (section 71(b and D and section
5 (1,m and n) respectively mandates the RDC to monitor and supervise the
schools. Out of 19 schools only one school was visited by the sub county chief
( Bukuku sub county chief you deserve a credit) yet sub county chiefs are the
supervisors of the sub county and sign performance contracts head teachers and
are the chief planners of the sub county. On a good not at least 12 schools out
of 19 schools were visited by the chairperson LC3 by June 2013. Was there any justification for chairpersons in 7 schools that were not visited as LC3
chairperson are majorly in power to monitor and supervise government programs
per the local government act.
Important to note is our very own Members of Parliament
who also have a role to play in
monitoring schools for improved PLE results as they are facilitated with
mileage every month to consult and monitor government programs in their
constituencies. In the case study, it was realized that the Kabarole district Woman
MP had visited 6 schools by June 2013 and
Hon. Stephen Kagwera MP had visited 7 schools by June 2013.
Schools Monitored by District Leaders
In a press conference
organized by RIDE Africa a member of
RWECO the leaders were argued to take their responsibilities of monitoring
school programs serious as it has a
direct impact on performance. The leaders act as role models and inspire the
pupils to aim higher as well as encourage teachers fulfilling their duties.
This evidence at Harugongo primary school which was visited by the MP Burashya four
times and scored 144 first grades in
2012 P.L.E results and Kazingo primary school that was visited once got 14
first grades out of 59 candidates in
2012. A census by all members present
during the press brief confirmed that monitoring and support supervision has a
direct link on other factors like provision lunch to pupils as well as effective
service delivery. The DEO’s office and CCTs were upheld for the good work in
supervising schools as all the schools sampled had been visited by the DEO,
District Inspector of schools, County Inspector of schools and CCTs.
Schools monitored by Sub county leaders in Burahya County
RIDE Africa organized a press conference on Wednesday
24th July, 2013 at Jerusalum Guest House, Fort Portal Municipality
that was attended by media house from the print and electronic media: print
media- The New Vision, Monitor, Red pepper and Observor paper, Radio
representative among others who include life FM, Guide FM, VOT FM, Better Fm
and HITS FM. Other participants were: The Political Assistant to the MP Burahya
County, Ditrict Inspector of schools, Town clerk, representatives of the Civil
Society from RICNET, RWECO, KAANA Foundation and Mountains of the Moon University,
and Community monitors in Kabarole
district. During the question session, the leaders expressed concerns that it was true monitoring and supervision of primary
schools had not been given adequate attention due to limited facilitation e.g. chairperson
LC IIIs get 290,000= monthly as facilitation despite their tight schedule
while others did not know that is was their role to monitor and supervise
schools, laxity while others said that sometimes they visit the schools and
don’t sign in the visitors’ books especially when they delegate
Let us take
responsibility to monitor education because Education is a systematic process
through which a child or an adult acquires knowledge, experience, skill and
sound attitude. It makes an individual civilized, refined, cultured and
educated. For a civilized and socialized society, education is the only means.
Its goal is to make an individual perfect.
We need to give importance to education because it is a panacea for all
evils and solves the various problems of life thus a developed nation. Together
we can make a difference.
Compiled by;
Ms. Sheila Kengingo & Ms. Erina Kahunde
RWECO/RIDE AFRICA
