Researching the Impact of Science Policy on Practices in Secondary Schools in Uganda

This presentation will look at some of the policy changes implemented by the Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sport in an effort to remedy the poor examination results obtained by O-Level students in Biology, Chemistry and Physics. It will also examine the MoES soluton to the low numbers of students taking Chemistry and Physics to A-Level. The content is based on the preliminary results of a project carried out by the CGDE in Uganda last June investigating the provision of Mathematics and Science at Second Level Schools. The researchers included four Irish academics, four from Uganda and three members of MoES. This presentation not meant to prempt the results of the larger project, but to give a flavour of Education in Uganda and to illustrate that without systems thinking todays solutions, may in fact cause tomorrow’s problems.

Profile
Dr. John A. Desmond is a teacher of Physics and Mathematiocs at St. Aloysius’ College, Carrigrwohill, Co. Cork. He is also engaged in some programmes with University College Cork and the University of Hull. John has worked as a Science teacher in Zimbabwe. He has also acted as Election Manager in Kosovo and as a Long Term Election Observer in Moldova, for the OSCE. He has also worked as a tutor for MEd students with the University Of Hull. He has been an active member of the Irish Science Teachers Asociation for nearly thirty years. He has travelled extensively throughout Africa and has a keen interest in development.

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