AUTHORITIES in Mwanza have laid down strategies to up academic performance in primary and secondary schools through prioritising English and Basic Mathematics subjects.
The efforts to transform academic performance by putting more focus on English and Basic Mathematics comes as the response to the latest results of the Form Two National Assessment (FTNA), Standard Four National Assessment (SFNA) and Standard Seven National Examination.
All the results show students’ poor performance in English and Basic Mathematics.
The statement was made recently by Mwanza Regional Education Officer, Martin Nkwabi, as schools reopened for the new academic year.
Therefore, the Regional Office convened academic meeting with Regional Education administrators including District Education officers and Directors of School Quality Assurance to evaluate academic performance trends in the region.
The stakeholders agreed on a shared effort to boost the region’s academic performance via addressing students’ absenteeism and dropouts.
They agreed to start providing meal for students during the whole academic year, to assign competent teachers, ensure zero exam leakage as well as conducting regular inspection in schools to inspect academic progress.
Mr Nkwabi pointed out that quality teaching of mathematics and English subjects from primary school will help students to be competent in the subjects for them to do better in SFTN which will propel them to better performance.
He further emphasised on all education stakeholders and administrators, including teachers and parents to demonstrate commitment and collaboration in upholding reading, writing and arithmetic, which call for students in primary level from standard one to be able to read and write in Kiswahili and English and do arithmetic calculation.
“Nearly 24,000 pupils in our region can’t read and write, we must change our teaching methods to ensure no single student is left behind, my vision in 2023 is to see every pupil do well academically,” Mr Nkwambi remarked.
