The Effects Of Universal Primary Education On Primary Leaving Examinations: A Case Study Of Koro Sub~county~ Gulu District

ABSTRAC~ The study investigated the effects of Universal Primary Education (UPE) on Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) a case study of Koro Sub County — Gulu District. The main objectives of the study were to; compare and contrast the results of PLE before the introduction of UPE programme and after it was introduced, identify the major challenges affecting the implementation of UPE programmes and propose the strategies of improving the performance of pupils in PLE under the UPE programmes. The study used both qualitative and quantitative design using survey. The major tools for data collection were the questionnaires, interview guides, and to some extent documents analysis. The categories of the respondents that participated in the study were the head teachers, teachers and pupils in primary schools in Koro sub county, Omoro county~Gulu District. The study came up with the following major findings; Most schools in Koro Sub County have not been performing well since the UPE was initiated nationally and locally in the sub cOunty in 1997. This contrasted sharply with the fair level of performance in the years before UPE was introduced. However the study noted that UPE programme has highly succeeded in increasing high enrolment in Uganda, from 3.5million to about 10 million currently. Despite the high level of enrolment of pupils under UPE programme, the studies found that quality of Education in the county have been highly compromised by the programme. There is high rate of failure and dropouts as compared to the years before. The study identified the following major challenges affecting the smooth implementation of UPE; 8 Poor funding of the programme by the government have been identified as the greatest challenge of the programme. This is because for any programme to succeed there should be adequate funds for implementing designed activities under the programmes. This had not been with UPE case. The high number of UPE entrants each years have put stress on the few existing personnel (teachers) meant to run the programmes. This created inefficiency in teaching and learning as teachers are overwhelmed by the numbers of pupils. The resultant effect is half-baked learners academically. Other challenges identified by the study were; Lack of trained teachers, lack of scholastic and instructional materials, poor methods ot teaching , lack of classrooms especially for lower classes (Pl-P3), absenteeism by both the teachers and pupils. Furthermore, there is a case of high gender imbalance at the terminal years of primary education cycle where boys tend to outnumber girls and lack of motivation for teachers among others. The study finally drew the conclusion that although UPE programme have succeeded or achieved much in realizing high enrolment and access to free education in Primary schools in Koro Sub County, it has to the contrary compromised the quality of education not only in Koro Sub County but the country as a whole. Most of the PLE graduates cannot effectively read and write. This has led to cases of high dropout rates in the sub county This have been brought about mainly by poor funding by the government and lack of parental commitment towards the education of their children once they sent them to school, they do not follow up their progress at school. The study made the following recommendations; Timely provision of funds by the government, more teachers to be recruited to reduce the high teacher pupil’s ratio, motivation of teachers to be enhanced, and provision of instructional materials among others.