C-News Bureau Chief
In Uganda, the reliance on private educational institutions is significantly higher compared to neighboring countries, as highlighted by the World Bank’s Uganda Economic Update. The 2019/20 academic year saw only 62 percent of primary students attending government-supported schools, a figure notably lower than the 92 percent average in Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. At the secondary level, the situation is similar, with just 43 percent in government institutions, almost half the regional average of 85 percent.
For pre-primary-aged children, public school attendance is a mere 20 percent, contrasting sharply with a 76 percent regional average. The report suggests that this figure likely includes underage enrollment in primary schools, as pre-primary education is not formally offered in government schools. To address this gap, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) is engaging in initiatives like school twinning and quality enhancement projects involving private schools.
The report also delves into Uganda’s approach to decentralization of education funding. Since 1986, Uganda has embraced decentralization to enhance democratic participation and public service delivery. The 1995 Constitution and the 1997 Local Government Act further defined this process. In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022, about 20 percent of education funding was managed by central government agencies, including MoES, with 24 percent by universities and 56 percent by local governments.
Local governments primarily provide pre-primary, primary, and secondary education. They executed 94 percent of the national education budget for primary education and 95 percent for secondary education in FY2022. Funding is predominantly sourced from the national budget through various transfers and grants.
On a more advanced educational front, Uganda is progressing towards a private-sector-led Business, Technical, Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) system. This is part of the Skilling Uganda Strategic Plan, supported by the World Bank and others, which includes forming private sector-led skills councils and enhancing BTVET institutions.
However, challenges remain, particularly at the secondary education level. In 2019, the gross attendance ratio for primary education was 123 percent, but only 39 percent for secondary education, lagging behind regional averages. Enrollment inefficiencies, such as late entry and high repetition rates, particularly in public schools, exacerbate these challenges.
Cost barriers significantly impact educational attainment, with only 60 percent of children who start primary education in Uganda completing it. Economic factors are the most cited reasons for leaving school, alongside poor academic performance and social issues like teenage pregnancy, which the COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated.
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