The Impact of Increased Enrolment of Students on the Quality of Teaching and Learning: A Case Study of Secondary Schools in Kakuuto County, Rakai District.

Abstract

TAMALE RONALD (2008-MO53-10017) The Impact of Increased Enrolment of Students on the Quality of Teaching and Learning: A Case Study of Secondary Schools in Kakuuto County, Rakai District. The research is about the impact of increased enrolment on the quality of teaching and learning. The case study is Kakuuto County in Rakai district. The study is against a background of the continued need for secondary education in Uganda leading to an increase in enrolment in secondary schools. The research is based on causes of increased enrolment of students in secondary school, the salient characteristics of quality teaching and learning in secondary schools and the effects of increased enrolment on the quality of teaching and learning in secondary schools in Kakuuto County. Qualitative and quantitative approaches to research were used during the study. Questionnaires, interview schedule, observation checklist and reviewing of relevant literature and documentary analysis were used while compiling data in the field. In the findings, it was discovered that increased enrolment of students was caused by poor policies applied by government in the quest to ensure that secondary schools absorb as many students as possible. Parents also contributed to increased enrolment through their demand for education for their children. In the research findings it was discovered that the problem of increased enrolment has greatly affected the academic standards of many secondary schools, such as creating scarcity of school infrastructures, over working teachers amidst inadequate teaching materials like text books, laboratory equipment and chemicals. To make matters worse, teachers are among the least paid government workers who receive low salaries that cannot march with the high inflation rates in the economy of Uganda. The salient characteristics of quality teaching and learning included; coaching and mentoring by head teachers, using applicable approaches to students with different needs, and periodic assessment of students. They also include students‟ counselling, engaging students in group work among others. The research was concluded by asserting that, measuring carrying capacity of secondary schools is crucial to reduce increased enrolment; there is a need of adopting ICT as a measure to deal with increasing numbers. There is need to create a higher education system with diversified institutions, responding to human resources requirements, funding, encouraging the setting up of quality-controlled private institutions and promoting quality assurance in public schools. The key recommendations were that the government should increase resource allocation particularly to secondary schools. In order to achieve this, financial donations should be sought from multi-national organisations engaged in funding educational projects, so that construction of classrooms can be done to solve the problem of inadequate school infrastructures. Furthermore, stakeholders such as the Board of Governors should seriously play their supervisory roles; parents should continue assisting secondary schools by contributing more money to subsidise that money paid by government. Similarly, teachers as very important stakeholders should be paid reasonable salaries that are commensurate with Uganda‟s cost of living and inflationary tendencies and in that way, they will work very hard in order to contribute to the academic progress of secondary schools. Key Words: Enrolment, Students, Teaching, Learning, Secondary, Rakai District