As Uganda prepares to commemorate the International Day of Education on 21st March 2024, the government has taken steps to adopt compulsory Universal Primary Education, with funds allocated for the program in the upcoming financial year.
This was disclosed by Dr. Crysostom Muyingo, the Minister of State in charge of Higher Education, at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala. He informed reporters that a total of UGX 309 billion has been earmarked to support the program.
“The government has budgeted for this program with the aim of strengthening compulsory Universal Primary Education, ensuring that every child has access to schooling. It is the responsibility of every parent and leader to ensure that children attend school,” Dr. Muyingo stated.
He further explained, “We aim to establish a mechanism to facilitate access to education at all levels for every Ugandan who desires to study.”
Mulindwa Ismail, the Director of Basic and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, remarked that progress is being made, with initial challenges being addressed, such as teacher training.
Mulindwa acknowledged that initially, there were challenges in understanding the methodology of implementing the program, but now teachers have become familiar with it and are effectively disseminating the necessary materials to students.
“All teachers are now equipped for the task because the National Curriculum Development Council (NCDC) has provided training. Initially, we trained a smaller percentage, around 30%, but by January of this year, a significant number have been trained using the cascade model,” explained Mr. Mulindwa.
The minister echoed Mulindwa’s sentiments, emphasizing that students have embraced the new curriculum due to its hands-on approach.
“I have conducted surveys across the country, and what I have observed is that students greatly appreciate the new curriculum because of its hands-on implementation style,” Dr. Muyingo explained.
He also highlighted that the curriculum, besides being competence-based and fostering self-assertiveness and alertness among learners, instills work values. In all subjects, students are encouraged to consider real-world applications and emphasize values such as honesty, integrity, and humility.
Additionally, the Minister stated that the government has allocated UGX 120 billion for the rehabilitation of primary school structures in the current academic year, with such funds set to increase annually. A total of 247 seed schools will be constructed in 37 districts.
It is worth noting that since the inception of the UPE program in 1996, pupil enrollment has significantly increased from 2.5 million to 8.6 million in 2023, and the gender parity index has improved from 0.88 in 1997 to 1.04 in 2021. The number of teachers recruited has also risen from 81,564 in 1996 to 136,819 in 2023.
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