Adult learners want more funds for the program

By Joyce Namutebi                

Uganda Literacy and Adult Learners’ Association (ULALA) has petitioned Parliament demanding increased budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Gender with a clear vote allocation for Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) Program.

“Since 2007, the Government investment in adult literacy education has been declining and currently the budget allocation to the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development that caters for adult literacy is less than 0.4% of the national budget,” ULALA said in a statement presented to the education committee.

The petition was presented by Robert Jjuuko, a lecturer at Kyambogo University in the Department of Adult and Community Education.

He expressed concern that the development budget for FAL programme is no longer there. “This shift means that Adult Literacy is no longer a government priority. Even the meager funds allocated cannot easily be tracked and protected from re-allocations.”

“Given the known crucial role of literacy in economic growth and national transformation, we feel that the consequences of the apparent neglect of this sub-sector need urgent attention and action.”

The Association proposed that the budget of gender be increased to at least 3% of the national budget adding that a clear directive and pronouncement for establishing and supporting at least one literacy learning centre in every parish should be embedded in the final budget allocation to the Ministry.

“We propose that a new campaign to drum up national commitment for adult literacy promotion should be speedily developed and implemented by the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development through a clearly defined public-private partnership mechanism involving state and non-state actors.”

 Policy-makers, civil servants, religious and cultural leaders and general public should recognize that adult literacy is critical to the economic security of the country and the well-being of its citizens, Jjuuko said.

The delegation was led by ULALA national coordinator, Ismail Kasiita. The association advocates for literacy of the adults and young people in Uganda. It has over 3000 adult literacy learners and over 500 adult literacy facilitators as members.

They urged the committee to liaise with responsible organs of Government to ensure the re-instatement of adult literacy on the public investment priority Plan by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.

They pointed out that the endemic challenge of ill-trained and poorly motivated adult literacy facilitators should be addressed because no education system can ever be better than its teachers / facilitators. “A clear capacity building and motivation scheme should be developed, budgeted, financed and implemented with direct leadership and guidance of the Ministry of Gender,” Jjuuko said.

He said that the adult Literary Learners’ long time plea to be awarded recognized certificates be looked into.

They urged Parliament to come up and counter the lukewarm response to calls for scaling-up adult literacy education.

 Majanja Zaaly'yembikke, a Consultant and Adult Literacy Facilitator, stressed that every adult should get the opportunity to have functional skills given the rapid technological advancement.

The committee asked the officials to make further improvements on their petition before it is presented to Parliament.    

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