Museveni Declares UPE For All
Feb 01, 2003
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has declared Universal Primary Education (UPE) for all children with immediate effect.
By John Eremu
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has declared Universal Primary Education (UPE) for all children with immediate effect.
“With the government commitment to achieving the millennium development goals, which among others include the priority of having education for all by the year 2015, there has been a policy shift from four children per family to all children,†Museveni told journalists yesterday.
In relaxed mood at State House Nakasero, the President gave a three-hour lecture to journalists on the progress of UPE since it was introduced in 1997 and the strategies to expand capacity at post-primary level to cater for the increased UPE graduands.
Education minister Dr. Kiddu Makubuya, State minister for primary education Geraldine Bitamazire, and acting Permanent Secretary Sam Onek, were among the ministry officials present.
Museveni said budgetary allocation to the education sector had risen from 14% in the mid-1980s to 31% of the discretionary recurrent budget.
“Expenditure towards the education sector increased from sh189.9b in 1995 to sh550b in the 2002/3 financial year, representing an increase of 190%,†Museveni said
He criticised those who say government was spending more on defence.
“Despite the wars, defence took only sh230b before the recent supplementation. Even with the supplementation, the figure still comes to around sh250b, yet in the papers you read that government is spending a lot on defence. You should repent,†he said.
He said UPE enabled primary school enrolment to rise from 2.2 million in 1996 to 7.3 million, an increase of 233%. He said grant-aided secondary schools were 734. He said government plans to have a secondary school and polytechnic in every sub-county.
Museveni advocated a freeze on salary increment for civil servants in higher scales until the gap between the highest and lowest salary earners (compression rate) is reduced.
He backed the ban on live radio talk- shows in bars. He said taking media debates, popularly called ebimeeza, to drinking places was wrong.
“This ebimeeza in bars is indiscipline and sabotage. A bar is a place for relaxation, eating pork and drinking but not for media activities. There is a place for everything. Churches are for worship, the bus park is for buses. You all know that I am a footballer, but I cannot play football on the pavements on Kampala Road,†he said.
Ends
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni has declared Universal Primary Education (UPE) for all children with immediate effect.
“With the government commitment to achieving the millennium development goals, which among others include the priority of having education for all by the year 2015, there has been a policy shift from four children per family to all children,†Museveni told journalists yesterday.
In relaxed mood at State House Nakasero, the President gave a three-hour lecture to journalists on the progress of UPE since it was introduced in 1997 and the strategies to expand capacity at post-primary level to cater for the increased UPE graduands.
Education minister Dr. Kiddu Makubuya, State minister for primary education Geraldine Bitamazire, and acting Permanent Secretary Sam Onek, were among the ministry officials present.
Museveni said budgetary allocation to the education sector had risen from 14% in the mid-1980s to 31% of the discretionary recurrent budget.
“Expenditure towards the education sector increased from sh189.9b in 1995 to sh550b in the 2002/3 financial year, representing an increase of 190%,†Museveni said
He criticised those who say government was spending more on defence.
“Despite the wars, defence took only sh230b before the recent supplementation. Even with the supplementation, the figure still comes to around sh250b, yet in the papers you read that government is spending a lot on defence. You should repent,†he said.
He said UPE enabled primary school enrolment to rise from 2.2 million in 1996 to 7.3 million, an increase of 233%. He said grant-aided secondary schools were 734. He said government plans to have a secondary school and polytechnic in every sub-county.
Museveni advocated a freeze on salary increment for civil servants in higher scales until the gap between the highest and lowest salary earners (compression rate) is reduced.
He backed the ban on live radio talk- shows in bars. He said taking media debates, popularly called ebimeeza, to drinking places was wrong.
“This ebimeeza in bars is indiscipline and sabotage. A bar is a place for relaxation, eating pork and drinking but not for media activities. There is a place for everything. Churches are for worship, the bus park is for buses. You all know that I am a footballer, but I cannot play football on the pavements on Kampala Road,†he said.
Ends