The education sector has so far scored 60% in the implementation of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) manifesto despite financial challenges, the NRM Director Manifesto Implementation, Willis Bashasha, has said.

He made the revelations Thursday during the release of the NRM manifesto education sector commitment progress report at State House in Nakasero.

NRM Director Manifesto Implementation Willis Bashasha makes his remarks during the release of the NRM manifesto education sector commitment progress report at State House in Nakasero. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

The education ministry is implementing 28 commitments from the NRM manifesto 2021-2026 from seven priority areas including; early child development, primary education, secondary education, BTVET Education, Higher education, physical education and sports and special needs education.

Early childhood development

On Early Childhood Development (ECD), the First Lady and education minister, Janet Museveni, said in addition to mainstreaming training ECD caregivers, effective academic year 2023/24, the ministry is rolling out diploma training for ECD caregivers in 22 core Primary Teachers Colleges (PTCs). The ministry will also avail 1,980 slots for government sponsorship.

Permanent Secretary education ministry Ketty Lamaro makes her remarks during the release of the NRM manifesto education sector commitment progress report. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

School inspection

On school inspection, the minister said the government is committed to rolling out the integrated inspection ICT biometric system in all public schools.

This will enable access to real-time data for quick decision-making. The system will be rolled out in all public primary schools.

“The ministry has completed the roll-out of the E-inspection system to all the 177 local governments. Therefore, we are now able to provide e-inspection and monitoring reports for all primary schools (public and private), provided the inspector makes a physical visit to the school,” the First Lady said.

makes her remarks during the release of the NRM manifesto education sector commitment progress report. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

(L-R) Senior presidential advisor on economic affairs, Prof Ephraim Kamuntu, Executive Director of the National Council for Higher Education Mary Okwakol and State Minister for higher education John C. Muyingo interact after the release of the NRM manifesto education sector commitment progress report. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

She added that the ministry had trained 452 local government inspectors and 48 inspectors under the Directorate of Education Standards (DES). However, she noted that “the challenge we still face is the government’s ability to facilitate Inspectors to travel to the schools.”

Senior presidential advisor on economic affairs, Prof Ephraim Kamuntu. (Photo by Maria Wamala)

Students loan scheme

On the student loan scheme that the government put for those not directly sponsored by the government, the ministry said the girl child was lagging.

“In FY 2021/2022, a total of sh6.1 billion was disbursed to 1,535 loan beneficiaries of which 1,115 were undergraduate students and 300 pursuing undergraduate diplomas. In the financial year 2022/2023, the loan scheme took on 2,145 beneficiaries of whom 674 were females,” Mrs. Museveni said.