BY JOACKIM KULE
A section of Head teachers from the Greater Kitholhu sub-county, Bukonzo County West in Kasese district has appealed to the government to consider making some amendments in the policy that allows mass and automatic promotion of learners in public schools.
Automatic promotion was adopted in 2005 as part of a broader national education strategy aimed at enhancing internal efficiency in basic education to increase retention and addressing issues of school dropouts and repetition, which were causing substantial costs for the government.
Speaking yesterday during a stakeholders’ meeting that was held at Kanyatsi Primary School in Kithoma – Kanyatsi Town Council, the Head teachers unanimously said they were against the idea of automatic promotion of the learners even when they have performed poorly.
Mr. Gabriel Kiregheya, the Head teacher at Kighuramu Primary School, said the policy of mass promotion forces them to allow the learners join the next classes despite their poor performance.
Kettie Nabaasa Kayanda, the Head teacher at Kyabikere Primary school complained that promoting learners retards the performance of learners at the end of primary seven.
Yokonia Baluku, the Head teacher at Kanyatsi Primary School , who is also the Zonal Leader for Kithoma -Kanyatsi Town Council conquered with his counterparts, noting that the policy is contributing much to the poor performance of learners in most government schools.
ENDS