Support schools to offer quality education

Sep 24, 2008

Uganda has gone an extra mile to introduce the universal education at primary and secondary levels in line with the United Nations education objectives.

Robert Owagonza

Uganda has gone an extra mile to introduce the universal education at primary and secondary levels in line with the United Nations education objectives.

The country committed itself to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), one of which is ensuring 98% enrolment of 6-12-year-olds by 2015. But despite the recent assessment that Uganda is on course of attaining the MDGs, we are far from this. Institutions that are supposed to steer the country towards achieving these goals have been left unattended.

A recent visit to Duhaga Girls School in Hoima district left me wondering whether the country is on track of achieving its targets. The school, which was started in 1908, is a champion of the girl child education. Its products include Dr. Sarah Ntiro, the first woman graduate in East and Central Africa and Can. Florence Njangali, the first African ordained woman priest. However, this glory is fast fading. This applies to many other schools in the country.

Duhaga Girls’ School risks catching fire like many other schools that were burnt in the recent wave of fires because it has no fire-fighting equipment. The girls are exposed to other risks because the buildings are almost collapsing, the school has no fence and the sanitation is poor.

In a 2008/09 pre-budget forum, stakeholders recommended that “The Government needs to find ways of facilitating education institutions to support them in providing quality education.” However, the sh300,000 given to schools per term as UPE grant from the Government is insufficient.

More funds should be allocated to the education sector and teachers should be facilitated to maintain quality. Prominent Ugandans should also support their former schools. Old girls of Duhaga Girls’ School have started a fundraising drive as they celebrate a century of its existence. We all have a responsibility to schools because they educate our children.

There is an old adage that “a child is brought up by the community. ” So let us ensure the security of our children, especially girls, by supporting schools to maintain quality education.

The writer is a social critic

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