Assessing the Effectiveness of Local Councils in Enhancing the Delivery of Quality Primary Education Service: A Case Study of Nakasongola District Local Council.

Abstract

NAKALEMA SYLVIA (2008-M092-20080)

Assessing the Effectiveness of Local Councils in Enhancing the Delivery of Quality Primary Education Service: A Case Study of Nakasongola District Local Council

This study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the district local council in enhancing the delivery of quality primary education in Nakasongola district. Emphasis was put on the district council‟s participation in planning, accountability, monitoring and monitoring of primary education service in the sub-counties of Nakitoma, Wabinyonyi and Nakasongola Town Council. The study employed a case study design because it gave an in-depth description of the research. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection were used including key informant interviews, questionnaires, focus group discussions and documentary review. Quantitative data was tabulated, edited, coded and analysed using excel. Qualitative data was arranged in themes and sub-themes analysed using thematic analysis. The results indicated that while planning was evident in local councils, there was a limited degree of transparency and accountability, monitoring and supervision of primary education and this affected the quality of education service in the district. The poor performance of education service was also manifested in terms of poor construction work and limited participation of parents in provision of scholastic materials, despite the fact that the rationale for decentralisation was to bring services near to the people. Based on the results of the study, the researcher recommended that there is a need to improve on local funding sources, encourage community participation in service delivery, building civic competence and creating mechanisms through which public officials could be held accountable. This could lead to improved primary education services delivery. Key Words: Primary, Education, Quality, Service