SIR â€” On january 29, Robert Kabushenga, in his article â€œUPE not disaster as portrayed by FDCâ€ and Andrew Mwendaâ€™s column in the Sunday Monitor, entitled â€œMuseveniâ€™s free education projects: wishful thinkingâ€ both expressed views about the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and the recently announced Universal Secondary Education (USE).

Kabushenga simplistically dismisses the serious deficiencies in UPE and accuses its critics of malice and â€œelitismâ€. To him equality (quantity) seems to be paramount.

The gist of Mwendaâ€™s piece appears to be to challenge the notion that investment in mass education, which he appears to equate with low quality, yields concomitant economic results and, therefore, benefits such as tackling poverty.

By selectively citing authors about whose credentials on the subject, apart from their consultancy and employment with the World Bank, he does not tell the reader, Mwenda seeks to demonstrate that investment in education should grow in tandem with economic growth. Finally, he reminisces over Ugandaâ€™s recent past when, in the absence of UPE, according to him â€œany household in Uganda could afford to pay for primary educationâ€.

While Kabushengaâ€™s statement that â€œfree education for all Ugandans in whatever form is better than what they had beforeâ€ is stunning, Mwendaâ€™s conclusion that â€œwhat Museveniâ€™s UPE and USE is likely to do is replicate peasants, rather than transform themâ€, is equally mind-boggling! In their arguments, the two appear to pit quality and equality one against the other.

Yet the two are clearly not mutually exclusive. You certainly can always have quality mass education for a guaranteed quantum leap for the country in more ways than one.

Meeting school dues has always been a major hurdle. It is impossible now, and perhaps never will it be possible, to tell how many ugandan scientists, economists, lawyers, doctors or teachers the nation has lost owing to the lack of school fees. However, whereas mass education is not only possible, but also absolutely desirable, it does not have to be bereft of quality, as experience elsewhere in the world clearly demonstrates.

Kabushenga's suggestion that â€œfree education in whatever formâ€ is fine is really unfortunate and only serves as a clumsy attempt to cover up and justify the abysmal NRM failures allowed to occur on their watch in an otherwise noble UPE project.

Stephen Julius Lwetutte
London

Gulu has rocky start as city

Women and children have turned the walkways into paved carpets for selling merchandise, especially food items.

Gulu has rocky start as city

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