Management challenges in the implementation of the thematic curriculum in primary schools in Uganda: a case of Agago district
Abstract
The study investigated Management Challenges faced in the implementation of Thematic
Curriculum (ITC) in P/S in Uganda. This came as a result of the glaring problem of very
low level of proficiency of pupils in literacy and numeracy. The study used both
quantitative and qualitative approaches. Questionnaires, interview and observation were
used as research instruments. The objectives of the study were; to investigate how
planning as a management function affects the (ITC), to establish the relationship
between organising and ITC, to assess how leading as a management function affects the
ITC and to examine the control system in the ITC in Agago district. The study randomly
sampled a population of one hundred and eighty (180) people to form a sample size of
one hundred and twenty three (123) respondents. The major findings were that:
Organizing (i.e. Ensuring schemes and lesson plans in place) has the highest positive
effect on ITC, Leading (i.e. directing teachers to perform their duties) has second highest
positive effect on ITC, Planning (i.e. recruitment of more teachers) has a moderate
positive effect on ITC and Controlling (i.e. monitoring teachers' and pupils'
perf01mance) has the lowest positive effect in the ITC. The major conclusions of the
study were that: organizing affected ITC more than the rest of the management functions,
followed by leading then planning and lastly controlling. The recommendations were that
the Ministry of Education and Sports in collaboration with District Education Officials
should carry out more studies on; the recruitment and deployment of teachers in schools,
the teachers' preparations, the teaching and learning process and then factors that affect
the setting of minimum performance standard and making corrections from deviations in
the ITC.