Science teachers have urged the government to enhance funding needed for the purchase of practical materials and tools to ease teaching and learning of the subject.
They say many schools lack the key tools and materials
The Country Director of Science Teaching and Innovation
Africa (STIA),
Amon Rugira said a practical-based approach to teaching science will enhance learners' practical
skills.
Rugira was speaking at the opening of the schools' science competitions and exhibitions
in Kampala.
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He revealed that with support from the Ministry of Education
and Sports and other partners, his organization has so far provided 1,002 schools with practical
learning materials made from local materials.
Rugira said over 200
teachers in Uganda have been trained in practical methods for teaching science
in primary and secondary schools..
Dr. Cleophus Mugenyi, the Commissioner for Basic Education from the
Ministry of Education and Sports, raised concerns about the low literacy
standards among primary three and primary six students, both boys and girls.
Mugenyi attributed
the low standards in numerical learning to the theoretical teaching approach
rather than practical methods.
Mugenyi urged schools to embrace the innovations of Science Teaching and Innovation
Africa and River
Flow International, which focus on practical science teaching.
He also
emphasized the need for innovators to reach out to underperforming schools and
districts so they can adopt these new teaching practices to enhance their
performance.
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Simon Peter Ochan, a teacher from Wakiso Secondary School for the Deaf, called on
the Ministry of Education to take affirmative action to ensure that the
learning process for students with disabilities, such as those with hearing
impairments, is tailored differently from that of other learners.
He stressed the need for sufficient learning materials for students with
hearing impairments, noting that hands-on approaches are more effective than
theoretical methods for these students.
Ochan also highlighted the challenges
posed by the use of English in exams, which is not accessible to all students
due to differences between sign language and English.
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Dr. Eddy Turyatemba Bayingana, the Assistant Commissioner in charge of
Vocational Education and Training, expressed gratitude to Science Teaching and Innovation
Africa and River Flow
International for their initiative.
Fred Kayongo Male
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