Uganda: Five per cent of school-age children have never gone to school
One out of every 20 children of school-going age (7 to 15 years) in Uganda has never attended school, despite Uganda’s policy on free education. That’s according to an Out of School Children Study in Uganda report released on 7 May.
The report, which presents a grim picture of Uganda’s efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of universal primary education (UPE), was commissioned by Strømme Foundation, Save the Children, ERIKS Development Partner, UNHCR, and UNICEF.
The study was carried out in the districts of Abim, Amuru, Arua, Bushenyi, Busia, Hoima, Isingiro, Kampala, Kayunga, Kumi, Luweero, Mbale, Namayingo, Napak, Oyam, and Zombo, and in refugee sites in Nakivale, Kyangwali, Rhino, and Kampala.
Too many students drop-out of school
The study shows that about nine per cent of children with a disability attend school but only six per cent of them complete primary school and continue studying in secondary school.
Fees for uniforms or clothing, exams, building, development funds, books and supplies, transportation, and coaching were identified as stumbling blocks causing pupils to drop out. However, Daniel Nkaada, national Commissioner for Basic Education in the Education Ministry, reiterated that UPE and Universal Secondary Education were free.
According to the report, one in four children who have never been to school and three quarters of those who drop out of school mention domestic work as a reason for being out of school.
EI: Public authorities must guarantee access to free, public quality education
“We urge Ugandan public authorities to ensure, as it is their responsibility, equal access to quality education for all students, boys and girls, i.e. to quality teachers and quality teaching and learning environments and tools,” said EI General Secretary Fred van Leeuwen.
Public authorities are responsible for ensuring that all students can develop their full potential and access education from early childhood to higher education, and schools must be inclusive, including children with disabilities as much as possible, he added.
