Kikuube leaders blame declining grades in govt schools on poor education environment

Local leaders and education officials in Kikuube District have attributed the declining academic performance in government schools to poor learning environments, insufficient infrastructure, and inadequate teaching staff.

During a recent stakeholders' meeting, District Education Officer Deogratius Byakagaba and other leaders raised concerns about the challenges facing schools in the district.

Byakagaba noted that many government schools in Kikuube lack basic facilities, including sufficient classrooms, textbooks, and staff housing, which contribute to poor results in national exams.

He also highlighted the large student-to-teacher ratio, with some teachers having to handle over 100 pupils, far above the recommended maximum of 55.

“We cannot expect good grades when the environment is so poor. Some schools lack basic resources like chalk, and the teacher shortage is severe. For example, some schools with 2,000 students only have 15 teachers. How can we expect success in such circumstances?” Byakagaba asked.

He also called on the government to prioritise co-curricular activities, such as football, athletics, and volleyball, which he believes can be a source of employment for students who may not excel academically.

Byakagaba cited Kikuube’s success in recent ball games, where the district team won two trophies in Soroti, as evidence of the importance of supporting students' talents.

"Not all students will become engineers or doctors. We need to support talents in sports, music, and other areas because these can provide income both locally and internationally," he added.

Vincent Opio  Alpha,  the Kikuube District Vice Chairman, expressed frustration over the slow progress in improving access to education.

He emphasised the need for the government to fulfil its promise of providing a primary school in every parish, a secondary school in every sub-county, and a tertiary institution in every constituency.

"Kikuube is a rural area, and many parents cannot afford private schools. Some children drop out of school because they have to trek long distances to access education. The government needs to walk the talk and make education accessible to all," Opio said.

Kikuube District Speaker Christopher Nkalu  added that while infrastructure and staffing challenges exist, laxity among teachers and inadequate supervision are also to blame for the poor performance in schools.

He criticised the district's education inspectors for failing to monitor schools, allowing some teachers to neglect their duties.

"Many teachers arrive late or fail to show up for classes because they are busy with their personal businesses. This lack of accountability has contributed to the decline in student performance, and I fault the education department for not doing enough to ensure proper supervision," Nkalu said.

The leaders made these remarks during an education stakeholders' engagement aimed at addressing the ongoing challenges in Kikuube's education sector.