PRIMARY EDUCATION  

6.1       A review of the current situation shows that significant progress has been made in quantitative terms in opening access to primary education. However, 17% of children of primary school age are still not in school, which constitutes a major constraint in Government’s efforts to achieve universal primary education. The increased access to primary education has not been accompanied by a corresponding provision of some educational inputs such as classrooms and teachers` housing. But the most serious problem that is a concern to Government is the Commission’s finding that educational achievement at this level is indeed declining. Some of the reasons identified for this low level of achievement are inadequate physical facilities, the quality of the teacher, lack of effective supervision, inadequate co-ordination of the administrative functions shared between Ministry of Local Government, Lands and Housing and Ministry of Education, inefficient distribution of instructional materials and the retention of educational policies such as large class sizes, double shifts and automatic promotion without ensuring that mechanisms which mitigate the negative effects of these policies are put in place.  

6.2        Government will undertake a phased programme to eliminate the shortage of physical facilities at this level as well as review policies that have negative effects on learning achievement. Particular attention will be given to areas where access to primary education is less than the national average in order to achieve equity in the provision of primary education.