Museveni’s education manifesto was the magic bullet to victory
Feb 22, 2011
THE next five years will be a litmus test for Museveni to deliver on his Education dream for Ugandans-it will take more than just policy guidelines to achieve this dream.
EDUCATION SCORE BOARD
THE next five years will be a litmus test for Museveni to deliver on his Education dream for Ugandans-it will take more than just policy guidelines to achieve this dream.
By ARTHUR BAGUMA
UGANDANS have made a verdict. They have overwhelmingly voted Yoweri Museveni for another term as President. A spiral of education achievements and promises by the National Resistance Movement explain why the party managed to win another five year term in the polls held last week.
In opinion polls, respondents cited free education as one of the reasons why they would vote President Museveni. But what does Museveni’s win mean for the education sector?
Largely it will be another milestone in achieving and consolidating an issue that has dominated Uganda’s education journey over the last two decades - education for all.
Free primary education pioneered in 1997. Fourteen years later free secondary education (USE) was introduced.
This year the pioneers of USE students are expected to join A’ level. The Government has promised free A’ level education and increasing government sponsored students from 4,000 to 6,000 at university.
The next five years will be a litmus test for Museveni to deliver on his Education dream for Ugandans-it will take more than just policy guidelines to achieve this dream. This basically entails free education for the entire education cycle from primary to university level.
Although the NRM education manifesto is rated the best, it’s implementation will be the utimate test. A successful education reform strategy is what has marked the NRM legacy since 1986.
Universal Primary Education
According to the Universal Primary Education (UPE) policy launched in 1997, four children per family were entitled to free education in government and government-aided schools.
Later, the Government announced free primary education to all school going children. Since the inception of the programme, the number of pupils sitting for PLE has increased. UPE has improved access to education. The number of pupils in schools has more than tripled between 1997 and 2005, from 2.1 million to 7.7 million.
The Ministry of Education statistics indicate that because of UPE, gross enrollment increased by 73% in one year.
From 3,068,625 pupils in 1996 to 5,303,564 in 1997. And by 2003, enrolment in primary schools was 7,633,314.
Statistics indicate that there was an increase in the number of primary schools from 8,531 in 1996 to 13,353 in 2003.
By 2003, there were 10,460 government-owned primary schools compared to 1,705 private primary schools, and 1,121 community schools.
Currently, there are over 15,000 primary schools in Uganda (private, government and community schools).
Challenges immense
Despite the successes in UPE; the downside is that drop-out rates have not reduced. Out of 2.1 million who started UPE in 1997, only 480,000 were still at school six years later — less than a quarter.
Uganda’s annual performance report of the education sector indicates that children drop out mainly in rural districts because of early marriage, engaging in petty trade, lack of lunch in schools and poor supervision.
According to the education Ministry, about 60% of UPE pupils who start primary school complete P.7.
However, out of 1,712,420 pupils who started P.1 in 2002, only 516,890 pupils sat PLE in 2009, representing only 30.1% of the pupils.
This is an improvement from 463,631 pupils who sat PLE in 2008 and an average of 450,000 pupils in the previous years, representing only 27% and 26% pupils respectively.
According to the National House Hold Survey report, over 2.5 million children in Uganda are involved in child labour.
Of these, 35% work and attend school at the same time, while 3% work without going to school. About 4.7% of them are neither involved in work nor attend school.
Universal Secondary Education
Universal Secondary Education (USE) kicked off in 2007. Across the country hundreds of students who in previous years may have been denied access, flocked to take up this opportunity.
In implementing USE, Uganda aimed at raising the number of students attending secondary school.
Free secondary education in Uganda has raised the transition rate from primary to secondary school from 46% to 69%. Secondary school enrollment rose to almost a million students in 2007, as a result of the 317,171 admitted under the USE programme.
Delayed release of funds to USE government and private schools, lack of lunch for students, congestion and lack of enough teachers are some toughest challenges facing the programme.
Currently, 579,734 students are studying under USE in 1,471 schools. Some are in private schools.
However, the construction and renovation of 217 secondary schools countrywide started at the close of 2010. The schools are part of the 1,400 schools which will be repaired under the World Bank- funded 10-year project.
A total of 4,297 classrooms, 41 administration blocks, 144 libraries, 405 science rooms, 71 teachers houses and 2,296 latrines will be constructed in this first three-year phase, which began in November last year. This first phase is to cost $150m (sh330b).
The World Bank has also provided $125m (sh270b) for the second phase and $100m (sh220b) for the third phase, ending in 2018. .
Free A’ level education
Effective this year, the Government has promised to offer free education to all A’ level students in public schools, business, technical and vocational institutions.
The Government has not officially announced the entry requirements to free A’ Level education but sources say they must have obtained a minimum of at least credit six, in all the three subjects which form a subject combination for a course in A’level.
The 228 Government-aided A’ level schools have a capacity of admitting over 36,000 students in A’level per year. This leaves over 60,000 of the candidates out of the scheme, unless private schools are involved in the scheme. However, like under USE, Government-aided schools where children of the affluent go are likely to be excluded from the scheme.
The scheme is also going to exclude accommodation. The Government plans to spend sh85b next financial year for free A’ level education.
University Education
The number of universities has increased from one to 28. Of these, 23 are privately owned.
More universities will open in 2011. Makerere University Business School, for instance, is to transform into a fully fledged public university. The Government has also pledged to roll out the long-awaited tuition loan scheme for privately sponsored university students.
The scheme has been in offing for more than a decade. It is now slated to start in July, 2011, according to President Yoweri Museveni. It provides light at the end of the tunnel for thousands of students who fail to join university on government sponsorship.
The increase in government scholarships by over 2000 starting next year is yet another milestone in the higher education sector. However, a more equitable system of allocating theses scholarship will be needed if the scheme is to benefit the children of the poor it targets to assist.
It has been proved that most beneficiaries of government scholarships under the merit system are students from wealthy families.
The privatisation scheme which was introduced by the Government in the late 1990s appears to be at the heart of the increase in the numbers of graduating students.
Makerere University had only 2,581 students in 1970, 4,045 in 1980, 16,042 in 1999, and 31,302 in 2005 and about 36,000 in 2009.
Students graduating have shot up from 9,369 in 1995 when the private scholarship scheme started to 12,346 who graduated in 2009. The 2009 number is almost double the 2008 figure of 5,548 graduates.
Increased funding to education budget
The education ministry’s budget allocation was increased from sh899b to over sh1trillion. This translates to 19% of the sh7trillion national budget, up from 17% % the previous financial year.
The funding has enabled the ministry to implement a number of projects. It has distributed over sh8.8b among USE schools programme to purchase laboratory equipment.
This has been a great milestone to enable good performance among USE students, since science subjects are compulsory at O’ level.
Government defends budget on
education
With an increased budget to education, the Government argues that it will be in position to focus on increasing net enrollment ratios, managing transition rates from primary to secondary schools, maintain admission student enrollment numbers at 4,000 students in public universities.
THE next five years will be a litmus test for Museveni to deliver on his Education dream for Ugandans-it will take more than just policy guidelines to achieve this dream.
By ARTHUR BAGUMA
UGANDANS have made a verdict. They have overwhelmingly voted Yoweri Museveni for another term as President. A spiral of education achievements and promises by the National Resistance Movement explain why the party managed to win another five year term in the polls held last week.
In opinion polls, respondents cited free education as one of the reasons why they would vote President Museveni. But what does Museveni’s win mean for the education sector?
Largely it will be another milestone in achieving and consolidating an issue that has dominated Uganda’s education journey over the last two decades - education for all.
Free primary education pioneered in 1997. Fourteen years later free secondary education (USE) was introduced.
This year the pioneers of USE students are expected to join A’ level. The Government has promised free A’ level education and increasing government sponsored students from 4,000 to 6,000 at university.
The next five years will be a litmus test for Museveni to deliver on his Education dream for Ugandans-it will take more than just policy guidelines to achieve this dream. This basically entails free education for the entire education cycle from primary to university level.
Although the NRM education manifesto is rated the best, it’s implementation will be the utimate test. A successful education reform strategy is what has marked the NRM legacy since 1986.
Universal Primary Education
According to the Universal Primary Education (UPE) policy launched in 1997, four children per family were entitled to free education in government and government-aided schools.
Later, the Government announced free primary education to all school going children. Since the inception of the programme, the number of pupils sitting for PLE has increased. UPE has improved access to education. The number of pupils in schools has more than tripled between 1997 and 2005, from 2.1 million to 7.7 million.
The Ministry of Education statistics indicate that because of UPE, gross enrollment increased by 73% in one year.
From 3,068,625 pupils in 1996 to 5,303,564 in 1997. And by 2003, enrolment in primary schools was 7,633,314.
Statistics indicate that there was an increase in the number of primary schools from 8,531 in 1996 to 13,353 in 2003.
By 2003, there were 10,460 government-owned primary schools compared to 1,705 private primary schools, and 1,121 community schools.
Currently, there are over 15,000 primary schools in Uganda (private, government and community schools).
Challenges immense
Despite the successes in UPE; the downside is that drop-out rates have not reduced. Out of 2.1 million who started UPE in 1997, only 480,000 were still at school six years later — less than a quarter.
Uganda’s annual performance report of the education sector indicates that children drop out mainly in rural districts because of early marriage, engaging in petty trade, lack of lunch in schools and poor supervision.
According to the education Ministry, about 60% of UPE pupils who start primary school complete P.7.
However, out of 1,712,420 pupils who started P.1 in 2002, only 516,890 pupils sat PLE in 2009, representing only 30.1% of the pupils.
This is an improvement from 463,631 pupils who sat PLE in 2008 and an average of 450,000 pupils in the previous years, representing only 27% and 26% pupils respectively.
According to the National House Hold Survey report, over 2.5 million children in Uganda are involved in child labour.
Of these, 35% work and attend school at the same time, while 3% work without going to school. About 4.7% of them are neither involved in work nor attend school.
Universal Secondary Education
Universal Secondary Education (USE) kicked off in 2007. Across the country hundreds of students who in previous years may have been denied access, flocked to take up this opportunity.
In implementing USE, Uganda aimed at raising the number of students attending secondary school.
Free secondary education in Uganda has raised the transition rate from primary to secondary school from 46% to 69%. Secondary school enrollment rose to almost a million students in 2007, as a result of the 317,171 admitted under the USE programme.
Delayed release of funds to USE government and private schools, lack of lunch for students, congestion and lack of enough teachers are some toughest challenges facing the programme.
Currently, 579,734 students are studying under USE in 1,471 schools. Some are in private schools.
However, the construction and renovation of 217 secondary schools countrywide started at the close of 2010. The schools are part of the 1,400 schools which will be repaired under the World Bank- funded 10-year project.
A total of 4,297 classrooms, 41 administration blocks, 144 libraries, 405 science rooms, 71 teachers houses and 2,296 latrines will be constructed in this first three-year phase, which began in November last year. This first phase is to cost $150m (sh330b).
The World Bank has also provided $125m (sh270b) for the second phase and $100m (sh220b) for the third phase, ending in 2018. .
Free A’ level education
Effective this year, the Government has promised to offer free education to all A’ level students in public schools, business, technical and vocational institutions.
The Government has not officially announced the entry requirements to free A’ Level education but sources say they must have obtained a minimum of at least credit six, in all the three subjects which form a subject combination for a course in A’level.
The 228 Government-aided A’ level schools have a capacity of admitting over 36,000 students in A’level per year. This leaves over 60,000 of the candidates out of the scheme, unless private schools are involved in the scheme. However, like under USE, Government-aided schools where children of the affluent go are likely to be excluded from the scheme.
The scheme is also going to exclude accommodation. The Government plans to spend sh85b next financial year for free A’ level education.
University Education
The number of universities has increased from one to 28. Of these, 23 are privately owned.
More universities will open in 2011. Makerere University Business School, for instance, is to transform into a fully fledged public university. The Government has also pledged to roll out the long-awaited tuition loan scheme for privately sponsored university students.
The scheme has been in offing for more than a decade. It is now slated to start in July, 2011, according to President Yoweri Museveni. It provides light at the end of the tunnel for thousands of students who fail to join university on government sponsorship.
The increase in government scholarships by over 2000 starting next year is yet another milestone in the higher education sector. However, a more equitable system of allocating theses scholarship will be needed if the scheme is to benefit the children of the poor it targets to assist.
It has been proved that most beneficiaries of government scholarships under the merit system are students from wealthy families.
The privatisation scheme which was introduced by the Government in the late 1990s appears to be at the heart of the increase in the numbers of graduating students.
Makerere University had only 2,581 students in 1970, 4,045 in 1980, 16,042 in 1999, and 31,302 in 2005 and about 36,000 in 2009.
Students graduating have shot up from 9,369 in 1995 when the private scholarship scheme started to 12,346 who graduated in 2009. The 2009 number is almost double the 2008 figure of 5,548 graduates.
Increased funding to education budget
The education ministry’s budget allocation was increased from sh899b to over sh1trillion. This translates to 19% of the sh7trillion national budget, up from 17% % the previous financial year.
The funding has enabled the ministry to implement a number of projects. It has distributed over sh8.8b among USE schools programme to purchase laboratory equipment.
This has been a great milestone to enable good performance among USE students, since science subjects are compulsory at O’ level.
Government defends budget on
education
With an increased budget to education, the Government argues that it will be in position to focus on increasing net enrollment ratios, managing transition rates from primary to secondary schools, maintain admission student enrollment numbers at 4,000 students in public universities.