Dear all, I am a late comer in this discussion, and jumping on a fast moving bus may not be the best thing to do . However, I cannot resist sharing with everyone some insights that I have gained through my work. Quality is difficult to improve when discussed in general terms because concrete actions are required. Which means identifying key factors that affect quality, and addressing them simultaneously. As Aliti pointed out parental followup, teachers, etc, but (1)teachers alone will not improve quality of performance of students (and of their education) to the expected levels. Other equally important factors are (2)curriculum content and relevance, (3)textbooks and teaching-learning materias, (4)language of teaching-learning, (5)learning-teaching environment (school), (6) health and nutritional status of the student, and (7) management, administration and planning. Therefore, investing in quality may not necessarily mean building new schools. Taking a holistic approach to alaysing the extent to which the various factors affect education and student's performance in examinations, (which again is limited if used as the only assessment tool) and responding through concrete actions at the appropriate levels, and simultaneously may have to be considered. Perhaps, I am re-opening the discussion on the topic! Florence Sereo, Education program officer in UNESCO (currently)
Date: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 02:35:40 -0700 From: alit...@yahoo.com To: westnilenet@kym.net Subject: [WestNileNet] A LEVEL RESULTS 2010. Dear colleagues, Greetings during this lent period. Many thanks for your contributions to the debate on the above subject. Iam still expectantly waiting for a virtual friend to post for us the summary of the A level results for schools or some schools in West Nile regions. However it is clear that our attention to education of our children should be tackled from a holistic approach because success in examinations is also related to a strategic or deep learning style. Reasons for relatively high failure rate in west Nile schools is unlikely to be explained by absence of good and committed teachers. The cause of the poor perfomance may more likely be the poor study habits of our current generation of students in west Nile, indequate commitment of most parents and some few teachers due to economic reasons and thirdly most private schools established by our own people in the region are not inspired by the need to improve students performance but the need for money. Private schools like Ushindi SS and Christ The King P.S should be uplaunded for their good performance in the 2010 O level and PLE exams respectively. If a model A level private school inspired by the need to improve students performance could be established and we build on the Govt effort in Public Schools we may see some opportunity to improve the standards in our schools. Remember the story of St. Charles Lwanga -Koboko, When many west nile students were refused admissions in St josephs Ombaci in the 60s and 70s on the pretex that they were not 'bright ', an Italian verona father(RIP) opted to establish St .Charles Lwanga-Koboko to absorb the west nile students and to prove to the management of ombaci by then that they were wrong to refuse admissions to west nilers and after just 2 years, Kobokos performance was better than that one of Ombaci . So the issue is inspirational to a large extend. Note that each of us in positions of responsibility outside Westnile and within the region should also personnally be concerned and involved in affairs of at least schools in our villages, parishes or sub counties individually( At least one school) and support or take part in some annual event in the schools as a member of board of governors,as a committee member or a concerned citizen of that area. We should not abandon the schools to our parents,students and the teachers and wait to lament when the results come out. I lead by example in Oleba S.S and Arua Public S.S where i have been a long serving board member and signs are that results are improving yearly in their Olevel exams. I support efforts by OBs of Mvara and Ombaci in thier efforts. I would like to invite a serious investor to Arua to invest in a quality A LEVEL Secondary school, then most of our children may not have to study down country. Till then have a good day. Candia Tom Aliti Principal Finance Officer Budget and Finance Division, Planning Department, Directorate of planning and Development,Ministry of Health. P O Box 7272,Kampala. Mob Tel. +256772574789 Email: alit...@yahoo.com. In justice and moments of decision, do not maintain attitude of indifference. _______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list WestNileNet@kym.net http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/westnilenet@kym.net/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. _______________________________________________
_______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list WestNileNet@kym.net http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ All Archives can be found at http://www.mail-archive.com/westnilenet@kym.net/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. _______________________________________________
