Aide Memoire for the 19th Education and Sports Sector Annual Performance Review

Abstract

1.0 Introduction 1. This Aide Memoire is for the 19th Education and Sports Sector Review. The theme of the review was "Addressing Learning Outcomes for Enhanced Competencies." with emphasis on the need to stem the declining proficiency levels in literacy and numeracy at primary level; and declining performance in English and science subjects at secondary level. The theme is also geared towards strengthening quality assurance mechanisms at BTVET and tertiary levels to produce appropriately skilled human resources that match the demands of the labour market in the country. 2. The 19th Annual Education and Sports Sector Review (ESSR) involved key stakeholders of the Education Sector, drawn from the Education Sector Consultative Committee (ESCC); the Education Sector Budget Working Group (ESBWG); Monitoring and Evaluation Working Group (M&E WG); Sector Policy and Management Working Group (SPM WG); departmental Working groups; Line Ministries; private sector; Civil Society Organizations. Parliament; Education Development Partners; District Local Governments; and representatives of head teachers (see Annex 1 for detailed list). 3. The 19th Education and sports Sector Review process commenced with preparation of the Education and Sports Sector Annual Performance Report (ESSAPR). This was followed by field visits to 72 institutions drawn from eighteen (18) districts in August 2012. The purpose of the field visits was to validate Sector performance as well as generate district perspectives on challenges facing the sector pertaining to pupils'/ students' learning out comes. The field visits constituted a major build-up activity for the national ESSR workshop held on 24th-25th October 2012. The ESSR workshop was conducted through presentation of papers and reports by technical resource persons drawn from different backgrounds. (See Annex4for papers presented) 4. Like the previous sector review, the 19th ESSR appraised sector performance for the period 1st July 2011 to 1st July 2012. Specifically the 19th ESSR Workshop:- (a) Assessed progress in achieving the agreed sector level performance benchmarks and undertakings including budgetary performance for FY 2011/12; (b) Presented and confirmed the performance of the sector in achieving the critical and process undertakings; (c) Discussed the following critical policy issues/concerns arising from the recent study reports and agreed on credible mitigating measures for improving the delivery of education and sports services:- (i) Inadequate literacy/reading skills at primary; Poor performance in science subjects and English language at Secondary Educationlevel; and, (iii) Inability to impart the required skills for employability and entrepreneurship at BTVET and Tertiary Levels of Education. (d) Discussed the development of a skilled and capable work force at Tertiary level required for economic growth in Uganda. (e) Discussed and provided practical recommendations for the sector to enhance skills training.