MPs uncover rot in free education

The report says, although USE and UPE have benefited many Ugandans, especially the poor, “this achievement has been grossly watered down by the often inadequate, inefficient and ineffective response to inherent challenges.”

Kampala

Members of Parliament have recommended urgent review of the government’s free education system, owing to declining education standards.

If government fails to review its free programme, the quality of education in the country will continue to decline, Members of Parliament on the Social Services Committee have said in a draft report reviewing the performance of the government’s free education system.

Increased enrollment
“Since the introduction of the Universal Primary and Secondary Education programmes, it has been widely reported that the huge increase in enrollment has exerted enormous pressure on the existing school systems and facilities including classrooms, teachers, textbooks and scholastic materials hence affecting the quality of education,” reads the report in part.

Ms Rosemary Sseninde, the MP for Wakiso women said last week that the committee would debate the 30- page report and cause government to act after it has been tabled before Parliament.
State Minister for Primary Education, Kamanda Bataringaya said the government is moving to address the quality of education in UPE schools. “Much as we have not seen the committee report, we are doing something,” he said.

The report says, although USE and UPE have benefited many Ugandans, especially the poor, “this achievement has been grossly watered down by the often inadequate, inefficient and ineffective response to inherent challenges.”

The MPs highlighted in the report that the government should accord attention to the two programmes to improve on the quality of education in the country.

“There is need for comprehensive, periodic and participatory review of policy formulation procedures, increased and timely disbursement of capitation grants, increased civic engagement, participation and responsibility in critical areas such as school feeding, operation and maintenance of schools facilities, the MPs notes.

They said there is also ensuring that all the necessary infrastructural development keep pace with the ever-increasing enrollment figures.

The survey done in November was carried out in 11 districts in the four regions.

Fourteen primary schools and 13 secondary schools were assessed.

UPE was introduced in 1997 to benefit four children per family. Since its introduction, according to the Ministry of Education statistics, enrollment has increased from 5.3 million pupils to about 8.5 million today.

USE was introduced in 2007. To date, about 1.2 million students have been enrolled under the programme in some 1,471 schools across the country.

Shs30 billion spent
Defending the current system, the minister said the government had strengthened the Directorate of Education Standards Unit in the ministry to monitor the quality of education in various schools across the country.

Last year, the government used more than Shs30 billion to finance the USE programme. The education sector funding, like in previous years, has increased from Shs899 billion to over Shs1 trillion to date.