Challenges to quality primary and secondary education in Uganda

Abstract

The survey and discussion focus on the challenges to quality education in Uganda. It is over 136 years since formal education was introduced in Uganda by the Christian Missionaries in 1877 and 1879. These were Anglican and Roman Catholic Missionaries respectively. Given the plethora of implicit and explicit challenges faced by the entire education system and its products, it is evident that the system has not fully played its role in transforming Uganda into a country which the inceptors of education hoped it would edify. The survey was carried out in Northern, Eastern, Western and Southern Uganda. Data was collected using questionnaires and observation check lists. A cross sectional survey design involved 5 primary and 5 secondary schools in each region; key stakeholders namely District Education Officers (DEOS), inspectors of schools, Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) officials, and parents. Data collected was analysed using percentages and some salient qualitative statements recorded. The findings revealed that although there has been a significant rise in student and pupil numbers both in primary and secondary schools, the entire primary and secondary education sub-systems are riddled with many challenges. The challenges are looked at from the sociological, economic and philosophical dimensions. It was therefore recommended that there is need to overhaul the entire education system in terms of pedagogical and non-pedagogical over-heads in the schools.