Free A’ level to turn fortunes of 36,000
Nov 10, 2010
A spin to the life of orphaned 17-year-old Martin Kanyike has dawned. After completing his Senior Four (S.4) examinations this year, the graduate of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) had no plans of proceeding to S.5 because of lack of school fees.
By Conan Businge
A spin to the life of orphaned 17-year-old Martin Kanyike has dawned. After completing his Senior Four (S.4) examinations this year, the graduate of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) had no plans of proceeding to S.5 because of lack of school fees.
But the President’s pronouncement could see this change. The NRM 2011 presidential candidate, Yoweri Museveni, has said effective next year, the Government will offer free education to all A’ level students in public schools. Kanyike might also be lucky since Museveni promises to raise university scholarships from the current 4,000. Business, Technical and Vocational Education (BTVET) shall also be free. That means the future of about 104,000 S.4 candidates this year, the first products of the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme, is certain.
If the Government implements this proposal, these S.4 students are likely to join S.5 next year. Uganda, the pioneer of free education in the East African region first abolished school fees for primary education in 1997, pushing enrollment figures from 2.5 million to 7.5 million today. This new move again puts Uganda a step ahead of other countries in the region.
Ministry ready for challenge
The education ministry’s permanent secretary, Francis-Xavier Lubanga, says: “We are committed to having free A’ level next year and the technical teams are already working out the programme.â€
Related reports show that the Government is already planning to invest in rehabilitation of schools and establishment of centres of excellence in some of the schools.
Government has not officially pronounced itself on the entry requirements to free A’ Level education but sources say a candidate must have obtained a minimum of at least credit six, in all the three subjects which form a subject combination for a course in S.5. The 228 Government-aided A’ level schools have a capacity of admitting over 36,000 students in S.5 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 accomodation. Under USE, only schools that charge sh70,000 and below as fees are catered for.
The latest government headcount in USE schools shows an increasing number of students joining the programme. For example, in 2007 when the programme started, 161,396 students were enrolled, 165,758 joined in 2008, 160,113 enrolled in 2009 and 201,990 students joined this year. Currently, 327 of the 970 sub-counties in the country still lack government-aided secondary schools. And the future of USE’s first graduates will heavily rely on how fast the Government rolls out the new free education package. It is also extending free education to all its Business, Technical and Vocational Education Training institutions (BTVET).
Sources in the education ministry say the Government plans to spend sh85b next financial year for free A’ level education. The Government already spends sh530b on UPE and sh110b on USE.
Impact on university education
Free education is likely to increase the number of students scrambling for university education. Museveni, in his manifesto, also says Government will expand public universities and implement a loan scheme for students.
Officials from the ministry add that the Government will construct a seed school in each sub-county. Experts say that with free A’level education and boosted vocational studies, it is envisaged that Uganda will have thousands of vocational graduates.
Challenges of free education
Delayed release of funds to schools, lack of lunch for students, congestion and lack of enough teachers are the toughest challenges facing this programme. And these may still manifest under Universal Advanced Level Education.
The headcount reports show that about 27.2% of the students who joined S.1 in 2007 have left USE schools. Of all students who joined S.1 in 2007, only 117,511 have managed to reach S.4 this year. This implies 43,885 have left the programme.
But the assistant commissioner for secondary education, Francis Agula, said that, “some of these students might have joined other non-USE schools in the country or dropped out.â€
The main cause of school drop-outs in Uganda includes teenage pregnancies, hidden costs of education, and poverty. Only 20% of those who start P.1, eventually stay in school up to P.7. But the greatest cause of drop-outs has been tied to lack of lunch in schools by several researchers and educationists.
A spin to the life of orphaned 17-year-old Martin Kanyike has dawned. After completing his Senior Four (S.4) examinations this year, the graduate of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) had no plans of proceeding to S.5 because of lack of school fees.
But the President’s pronouncement could see this change. The NRM 2011 presidential candidate, Yoweri Museveni, has said effective next year, the Government will offer free education to all A’ level students in public schools. Kanyike might also be lucky since Museveni promises to raise university scholarships from the current 4,000. Business, Technical and Vocational Education (BTVET) shall also be free. That means the future of about 104,000 S.4 candidates this year, the first products of the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme, is certain.
If the Government implements this proposal, these S.4 students are likely to join S.5 next year. Uganda, the pioneer of free education in the East African region first abolished school fees for primary education in 1997, pushing enrollment figures from 2.5 million to 7.5 million today. This new move again puts Uganda a step ahead of other countries in the region.
Ministry ready for challenge
The education ministry’s permanent secretary, Francis-Xavier Lubanga, says: “We are committed to having free A’ level next year and the technical teams are already working out the programme.â€
Related reports show that the Government is already planning to invest in rehabilitation of schools and establishment of centres of excellence in some of the schools.
Government has not officially pronounced itself on the entry requirements to free A’ Level education but sources say a candidate must have obtained a minimum of at least credit six, in all the three subjects which form a subject combination for a course in S.5. The 228 Government-aided A’ level schools have a capacity of admitting over 36,000 students in S.5 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 accomodation. Under USE, only schools that charge sh70,000 and below as fees are catered for.
The latest government headcount in USE schools shows an increasing number of students joining the programme. For example, in 2007 when the programme started, 161,396 students were enrolled, 165,758 joined in 2008, 160,113 enrolled in 2009 and 201,990 students joined this year. Currently, 327 of the 970 sub-counties in the country still lack government-aided secondary schools. And the future of USE’s first graduates will heavily rely on how fast the Government rolls out the new free education package. It is also extending free education to all its Business, Technical and Vocational Education Training institutions (BTVET).
Sources in the education ministry say the Government plans to spend sh85b next financial year for free A’ level education. The Government already spends sh530b on UPE and sh110b on USE.
Impact on university education
Free education is likely to increase the number of students scrambling for university education. Museveni, in his manifesto, also says Government will expand public universities and implement a loan scheme for students.
Officials from the ministry add that the Government will construct a seed school in each sub-county. Experts say that with free A’level education and boosted vocational studies, it is envisaged that Uganda will have thousands of vocational graduates.
Challenges of free education
Delayed release of funds to schools, lack of lunch for students, congestion and lack of enough teachers are the toughest challenges facing this programme. And these may still manifest under Universal Advanced Level Education.
The headcount reports show that about 27.2% of the students who joined S.1 in 2007 have left USE schools. Of all students who joined S.1 in 2007, only 117,511 have managed to reach S.4 this year. This implies 43,885 have left the programme.
But the assistant commissioner for secondary education, Francis Agula, said that, “some of these students might have joined other non-USE schools in the country or dropped out.â€
The main cause of school drop-outs in Uganda includes teenage pregnancies, hidden costs of education, and poverty. Only 20% of those who start P.1, eventually stay in school up to P.7. But the greatest cause of drop-outs has been tied to lack of lunch in schools by several researchers and educationists.