Education Actors re- echo the critical role of Parents and Teachers in Quality Education
On 23rd May 2014, Uwezo Uganda launched its 2012 report at North Road Primary School in Mbale as a representative of the Eastern Region. In the general discussion, it was observed that parents have left the education of their children to government/teachers which has put the children into a state of going to school but then; not learning. Therefore the best way to ensure that children who go to school learn was encouraging parents to support their schools, provide necessary materials to their children among others.
In his remarks, the chief guest Mr. Philip Kalyebi, the DEO Butaleja, said the Uwezo report shows a true picture of how the education system is at the moment.
“Parents have lost their relationship with their children just like teachers have lost their relationship with the pupils and this could not favour learning for children,” he added, “there is need to mobilize parents so that they could understand their importance towards children’s learning.”
Believing that the report would help government perform better, Mr. Nangosha Micheal, DEO of Mbale District, welcomed the report. He challenged teachers to play their part and let parents take up their role too. He re-echoed the need to teach in local languages so that children can learn faster. He cited an example of China’s fast development as a result of teaching in the local language.
Mr. Richard Ssewakiryanga, the Executive Director UNNGOF, said that there is a crisis in our education system that needs solving. He challenged people to stop leaving their children’s education in the hands of government and called upon parents to invest in their children’s education because schools with parents who participate in the school processes perform well.
Mr. Emmanuel Mugoole, a Senior Researcher at UNNGOF noted that Uwezo is different from other education assessments because it is carried out at the household in the presence of the school child and his or her parent/guardian. He noted that boys and girls seemed to move at the same pace whereas the Northern and Eastern Region performed poorly in this exercise.
This activity was organized by the Uganda National NGO Forum with approximately 150 people in attendance including parents, teachers, media and primary school children. The findings will be used to inform debate by all stakeholders on how quality education can be realized. The function was coloured by song and poetic key education message presentations from pupils, illustrating why the education system was not helping them learn. 50 and over 500 Uwezo reports and report summaries respectively, were disseminated.
