Kampala, Uganda – The Ministry of Education and Sports has commenced a two-phased training to enhance school inspection as one of the measures towards increasing students’ performance across the country. The training aims at equipping District Education Officers – DEOs and Inspectors of Schools with skills on the effective use of the Integrated Inspection System- IIS.

This training focuses on local governments that performed poorly in the 2023 Primary Leaving Examination and School Performance Assessment. This initiative will increase the capacity of school inspectors to enhance the quality of teaching for improved learning outcomes across the country.

Led by the Directorate of Education Standards under Assistant Commissioner Judith Akuru, the program will cover 21 local governments in central and western Uganda. The training aims at equipping these regions with the necessary skills to use the IIS and other tools to determine the quality of teaching and learning.

Akuru noted discrepancies in the current school inspections, saying that most reports fail to capture the real challenges on the ground.

We want to equip education officers with the skills to bridge such gaps and contribute toward better educational outcomes,” Akuru added.

The program further harps on the incorporation of technology and data in most school inspections. Students use the IIS as an instrument to monitor real-time teacher attendance and real-time information on school performance in efforts to intervene and support these schools.

When we build their capacity, they are better suited to support teachers and headteachers, hence improvement in learning outcomes by the pupils,” Akuru said.

This training came two weeks after a similar one that was held at Teso College, Aloit for inspectors and DEOs from the eastern and northern parts of the country. Together, these represent a national effort to uplift education performance and help children reach their potential.

The training addresses critical areas such as gaps in student achievement, challenges in adopting technology for monitoring school performance, and inefficiencies in inspections. It further helps participants come up with actionable district improvement plans that drive meaningful changes in education.

In addition to technical skills, the training reinforces the leadership roles of DEOs in driving educational progress within their districts. By empowering inspectors to provide accurate, real-time data, the initiative ensures better decision-making and accountability at all levels.

Akuru expressed optimism about the program’s potential impact.

With better-trained inspectors and DEOs, we expect a snowballing effect to bring about positive changes in schools across the country. Our students deserve the best education possible,” she affirmed.

The practical focus of the program on technology has equipped the inspectors to make effective use of data for monitoring school performance and recommending timely interventions. This will strengthen not only the oversight but also foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement within Uganda’s education system.

Akuru noted that this is all in the best interest of enhancing the quality of education so that all learners can reach their full potential. It also tries to address challenges that have faced school inspections for long, such as lack of resources and antiquated methods.

The Ministry of Education and Sports believes this training marks one of the important steps toward transforming the education sector. The program seeks to enhance the skills and capacity of school inspectors in creating a more effective and responsive education system.

Akuru emphasized the need for collaboration, calling on all stakeholders to support these efforts.

Improving education requires a collective effort. With everyone working together, we can ensure that no student is left behind,” she said.

This initiative is foreseen to have long-term benefits for the schools in Uganda, with students getting a quality education that prepares them for the future. The Ministry focuses on capacity building and evidence-based approaches as it works toward a sustainable foundation for excellence in education.

This training is also a reassurance that the government is seriously addressing disparities in education performance, particularly in underperforming regions. The fact that this training targets schools with the lowest PLE and SPA results is about leveling the playing field so that equal opportunities are indeed given to all students.

The Ministry anticipates that as the program progresses, better support of schools through enhanced skills and tools for inspectors will ultimately improve teaching standards and the achievements of students.

“This is not mere training of inspectors. This training means the whole transformation of the entire education system in this country to answer to the needs of every learner.” – Akuru.

This all-inclusive training program therefore represents a milestone in the Ministry’s efforts to reinforce oversight, increase accountability, and ensure excellence in the education sector in Uganda.