What to Expect

Uganda

 

It will be interesting to visit not only Osligi Obaya Primary but other schools in the area, during this project.  Although, I don’t yet know what to expect, there have been many similarities in all of the schools in my previous African travels.:

• A knowledge-based rather than skills-based curriculum
• Very traditional teaching methods – much more Sage on the Stage than Guide on the Side
• A lot of rote learning of facts
• All of the questions being asked by teachers rather than children
• A lot of written tests given, irrespective of what children know
• Large paperwork burden for teachers who are expected to provide lesson plans for every class.
• Much teaching time is spent marking work
• Little differentiation to support able pupils and those who need extra help.
• Poorly trained and badly paid teachers
• Large classes

This is not a criticism of teaching in Africa.  It is just the reality.  

In Scotland, we have had Universal Primary Education (UPE) since 1872. So we will have been on the education journey for 146 years in 2018.

 

In Uganda, UPE was established in 1997 (but only for 4 children per family) (21 years)

In Namibia, UPE was established in 2001 (17 years)

In Rwanda, UPE was established in 2010 (post genocide) (8 years)

In Kenya, UPE was established in 2003 (15 years)

 

Consider what classes in Scotland looked like, 8, 15,17 and 21 years after free education was introduced and it would be a similar picture.

 

It will be interesting to learn about the challenges faced by teachers and pupils, as well as the reality of life in a Kenyan classroom as I consider how best to support school development.