Universal Secondary Education: review of the implementation progress in Kiboga District.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the factors that influence the implementation of USE program in Kiboga district. This was prompted by the observation and the reports in the mass media that USE program was not on track in its two years of implementation as it was hurriedly implemented without providing for enough infrastructural facilities by the government. The objectives of the study were to examine the managerial, financial, technical and political challenges that influence the implementation of USE program in Kiboga District. A cross-sectional research design was adopted where a total sample of 83 respondents including school administrators (head teachers, deputy head teachers, Directors of studies, PTA and BOG chairpersons), sub county chiefs, Local Council V Secretary for Education and the District Education Officer were consulted. The primary data was collected using structured questionnaires and key informant interview guides. Consequently, both qualitative and quantitative data were analysed. Research findings revealed the managerial challenges in implementation of the USE program as lack of community sensitization about the USE program, low teacher motivation, failure of USE to provide for education of children with special needs and, poor planning of school resources among others. The main financial challenges were insufficient funds for USE implementation, delay of release of USE funds and poor remuneration of teachers under the USE program. The technical challenges included inadequacy of physical infrastructure for learning, insufficient instructional materials for the USE program, inadequate supervision and monitoring of education standards and an irrelevant curriculum among others. The major political challenges in the implementation of USE program in Kiboga District were found to be unfavorable policy/legal framework for USE implementation and low community support for the USE program. In order to ameliorate these policy implementation challenges, the study recommended increase in the salary of teachers to match the increased cost of living, strengthening of supervision as well as community sensitization about the USE program among others.