Minister Joyce Kaducu warns against promoting pupils based on age
The state minister for Primary Education, Joyce Moriku Kaducu, has cautioned head teachers against promoting learners to the next class solely because they are older than their classmates, saying the practice undermines education standards.
Speaking during a meeting with head teachers from schools under the Kampala Capital City Authority on Friday, Dr. Kaducu stressed that pupil promotion should be based strictly on merit and demonstrated competence.
“The mission and vision of the Ministry of Education are clear,” she said. “Promotion must be guided by a child’s performance and mastery of the required competencies, not their age.”
Dr. Kaducu warned that advancing learners who have not met the required learning standards weakens the foundation of the education system and affects overall academic performance.
She noted that when a learner has outgrown the appropriate age for a class but has not achieved the expected competencies, schools should not automatically promote them. Instead, she advised head teachers and teachers to provide remedial support, counseling, and proper guidance to help such learners catch up academically.
“The solution is not to push the child forward, but to support them through guidance, counselling, and targeted learning interventions,” she said.
The meeting brought together head teachers from KCCA schools to review learners’ performance, compliance with the government’s free education policy, and overall school management issues.
Officials also discussed strategies to improve learning outcomes, strengthen supervision, and ensure schools adhere to national education guidelines.
Dr. Kaducu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the quality of primary education, urging school leaders to uphold professionalism and focus on building strong academic foundations for all learners.
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