Assessment of primary schools pupils’ performance in leaving examinations in Iringa region: a case study of Kilolo, Iringa Municipality and Mufindi districts

This study investigates primary school pupils’ performance in leaving examinations in Iringa region with the focus in Kilolo District. It is a comparative study between Kilolo District which had poor performance in Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLEs) and Iringa Municipality and Mufindi District which had good performance in PSLEs for about five years continuously. The specific objectives of the study were; to identify factors those contribute to poor performance of Primary School Leaving Examination at Kilolo District, to identify factors those contribute to good performance of Primary School Leaving Examination in Iringa Municipality, to examine the efforts made by the district in improving teaching environment and finally to analyze measures to be taken by Kilolo District so as to improve the performance. The study investigated factors that were assumed to have an impact on poor performance of PSLEs at Kilolo District including teachers’ qualifications, availability of teaching and learning materials, teacher-pupil ratio, book-pupil ratio, teachers’ in-service training as well as teachers’ motivations and incentives. Data collection involved the use of interviews, questionnaires, direct observation, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and documentary reviews. The findings revealed that poor performance at Kilolo District was due to shortage of teaching and learning materials, high teacher-pupil ratio, high book-pupil ratio, absence of in-service training, lack of motivations and incentives for teachers, shortage of staff quarters and other school facilities as well as low level of educational awareness among parents. These findings suggest that there is a need for the government to improve the teaching and learning environment in primary schools at Kilolo District so as to improve the performance of PSLEs at the region as well as national level.