Social Studies best done as Mathematics trails
KAMPALA.
Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb) yesterday reported that Social Studies was the best done subject in last year’s Primary Leaving Examinations.
According to Uneb statistics, 90.2 per cent of the candidates who sat the 2016 Social Studies examinations passed, an improvement from the previous year’s performance at 87.1 per cent. This was followed by English language (86.9per cent), Science (85.2per cent) and Mathematics came at the bottom.
Uneb executive secretary, Mr Daniel Odongo, however, added that Mathematics improved at distinction level but with an overall “decline in the general performance”.
Ms Goretti Nakabugo, Uwezo country director, yesterday said the improved performance is because government has invested more in literacy interventions than they have in the sciences.
She added that if the government is to achieve the science policy, there is need to re-focus their attention on the science based subjects.
“We are promoting science and technology. There is no way we will succeed if our background of Mathematics and Sciences is poor,” Ms Nakabugo said in an interview.
Mr James Jjuko, the chairperson Kampala head teachers’ association, yesterday attributed the poor performance in science subjects to lack of teachers who have performed well in the subjects joining the profession.
He said most of the candidates who pass the science subject opt for Engineering and Medicine courses which are better paying than the teaching profession.
He advised government to make teaching more competitive by paying teachers better and availing them with accommodation and transport for those not housed at their work place.
Mr Juuko was disturbed that government continues to accuse them of absenteeism but does little to reward teachers who strive hard to post the good results.
“If teachers continue to be paid the way they are paid, no one will be interested in the profession. People who do well in Math go for better paying jobs. Where are you going to get teachers who will teach Math when the cream chooses to do pharmacy and medicine?” he asked.
