West Nile region is grappling with a concerning trend in education as Madi Okollo and Arua district have been ranked at the bottom of the list in the recently released primary leaving mock examinations. These results have raised concerns about the quality of education in these areas and have prompted regional leaders to address the issue.
Under the umbrella of the West Nile Primary Schools Head Teachers Association, Madi Okollo was ranked as the lowest-performing district, securing the 15th position out of 15. Arua district, not faring much better, was ranked 14th.
These rankings have sent shockwaves throughout the region, with educational authorities calling for immediate action to rectify the situation. In the mock examinations, Madi Okollo recorded 8 students in division one, 100 in division two, 349 in division three, 305 in division four, while a staggering 672 students received ungraded results, and 139 didn't even sit for the exams.
Arua district fared slightly better, with 19 students in division one, 270 in division two, 517 in division three, and 428 in division four. However, 396 students were ungraded, and 110 didn't participate in the examinations.
Williams Anyama, the district chairman of Moyo district, expressed his concern during the examination release, emphasizing the need for regional leaders to take a more active role in addressing the poor performance of districts like Madi Okollo and Arua.
"Wadri Sam Nyakua, the Mayor of Arua City, attributed the subpar performance to inadequate supervision of teachers, especially in public schools, leading to insufficient teaching for the students," Nyakua said.
The issues affecting the education system in the region go beyond the classroom.
Asea Otoro Amos, the UNATU chairperson of Arua branch, highlighted some of these systemic challenges.
"Some teachers are receiving only half their salary without a clear explanation, leaving them with financial difficulties,"
He said. "Teachers struggle to pay school fees for their own children and upgrade their academic qualifications."
Amos also pointed out salary discrimination and the lack of school staff quarters for teachers, which forces them to travel long distances to reach their schools. All these factors are contributing to the poor performance of students.
In the overall district and municipal rankings, Arua City emerged at the top, with Yumbe district securing the second position, followed by Adjumani in third place, Koboko Municipality in fourth, Nebbi district in fifth, Pakwach in sixth, Maracha in seventh, Obongi in eighth, Moyo in ninth, Zombo in tenth, Koboko district in eleventh, Terego in twelfth, and Nebbi municipal in thirteenth place. These rankings have put the spotlight on the challenges facing the education sector in the West Nile region, urging local leaders and authorities to take immediate action to address the issues hindering the academic progress of students in Madi Okollo and Arua district. The future of these young learners depends on swift and effective solutions to improve the education system in the region.
By Alinda Moses Igwera Dailywestnile.info
