The opinion of educational stakeholders to the new science-based policy and its effective implementation in secondary schools in Mbarara District

Abstract

The study set out to study the opinion of educational stakeholders to the new science based policy for its effective planning and implementation. It was undertaken to establish whether or not stakeholders’ opinion regarding their involvement would lead to effective implementation of the policy. It was carried out in selected secondary schools in Mbarara district. The study was carried out to study the opinion of students and teachers to the new science-based policy, to find out the opinion of parents to the new science-based policy and to find out possible measures for effective planning and implementation of the policy.

The study design was basically a cross-sectional sample survey that made use of both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The respondents were selected randomly from parents, students, and teachers who gave their opinions on the issues of the new- science based policy and its effective implementation in secondary schools. The hypotheses of the study were tested using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient technique.

Findings show that there was correlation between the opinions of educational stakeholders and the implementation of the new science policy and that the Science policy can be made more effective through adequate stake holder’s analysis of the situation. In this all, teachers and school managers and administrators should have skills on the challenges affecting society and how they can be managed and transfer it to the learners. It was recommended from the study that government should establish more infrastructure to boost the study of science subjects, carryout wide consultations amongst the stakeholders in the education sector and to involve students in the area of science studies right from primary level. Efforts should be made to encourage students who are interested to take sciences but at the same time encourage those who want arts to take them. They said the world cannot do without the Arts subjects at all.