Evaluation of music education in selected primary teachers colleges in the central region of Uganda

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the teaching of Music Education in Shimon , Kibuli and Ggaba Primary Teachers’ Colleges, all found in the Central region of Uganda. The study was guided by the following objectives; Find out how music teaching and learning is conducted, assess the administrative support given towards the teaching and learning of music and find out the challenges encountered during the teaching and learning of music and suggest solutions thereafter. A descriptive design was conducted to collect facts, views and experiences during the teaching and learning. The study findings revealed that; Music teaching and learning was not properly conducted because of different factors like; methods employed by tutors which contradicted those suggested in the music syllabus thus tutor-centered instead of student –centered methods and absenteeism of tutors. It was also revealed that the time allocated to music was not sufficient given the breadth /or extensiveness of the content but still, it is not properly utilized because of absenteeism of music tutors. It was concluded from the study findings that; the teaching and learning of practical skills in the classroom is very minimal because most of the practical activities according to the syllabus are out of class activities. The following recommendations were suggested. There is need for curriculum developers through the Ministry of Education and Sports to continuously organize workshops, seminars and refresher courses aimed at helping tutors enrich their professional practice. On the academic point of view, the study gives detailed information of how best music teaching can be handled in Primary Teachers’ Colleges in order to produce well balanced and competent practical music teachers.