This posting is devoted to the state of rural Ugandan education. Apologies, but I feel it has to be said. Blame the economist in me!
I've spent 3 days this week visiting schools in rural Uganda in order to provide context for the work I will be doing here. The above photo is of 3 boys, presumably brothers. The eldest two are clearly above the legal age of 7 years for having to attend school. They were loitering by the gates to the first school we visited. When asked, in local language, "Why are you not in school" the answer given was "because my parents cannot afford it". This is not unusual. Despite a universal education being provided or funded by the government (67% of secondary education is provided by the private sector), the perception that it is free is simply not true. Parents have to pay for uniforms, pens, pencils and paper, and meals. Uniform, obligatory, costs 50,000 shillings plus, about £10, but can be purchased cheaper 2nd hand; other costs will come to something like 15,000 shillings a term, or around £3. Doesn't sound much, does it?
The context. Agriculture is the only occupation of significance in rural Uganda. Most parents will be subsistence farmers, but if they do provide labour for someone else, the going wage is 80,000 shillings a month, or £16. Most families have 4 or more school age children. Apparently, Uganda has the youngest population in the world.
- Uganda population is 35 million, growing at the rate of an extra 1 million per year!
- 55% of population is under 18 years of age
- 70% of population is under 30 years of age
- 85% of population live in rural villages
- 69% of population live at subsistence level - they are "moneyless"
- 63% of population over 18 years of age is illiterate
- 97% of all 7 year olds start primary education
- 65% of children get to primary year 5 (age 11+)
- 35% of children complete primary 7 (age 13+)
- 30% of children start secondary 1 (age 14+)
- 15% of children get to secondary 4 (age 17+), equivalent to our GCSE year
The most likely reason why a student is waiting to see the headmaster at the end of the day? It is that the fees have not been paid and a route forward has to be planned. Terms are frequently missed when there is a drought. Some children have to wait until an older sibling has finished schooling before they can start. Classes are therefore very mixed in age composition as students must pass the end of year exams in order to progress to the next level.
The other factors causing high drop-out rates are that the children are required to help their families, such as in tending cattle, or, for girls, that they cannot cope with the problems associated with menstrual hygiene when at schools. The latrines are very basic.
The students really want an education, but the barriers are many.
Schools receive 47,000 shillings (£10) per term from the government for each student in secondary school. It barely covers day to day running costs. Teachers' levels of pay are appalling even in Ugandan terms (£50-£100 pm), text books and resources cannot be purchased ..... and maintenance of premises is a constant battle. Class sizes are usually huge and most teaching is what we would call traditional chalk and talk with students copying essential notes down from the blackboard. Teaching as a profession across Uganda is totally undervalued. Most teachers did not choose to be teachers. Continuous professional development, for many, is a risible process.
How does an education system progress under these circumstances? Well, it is trying! In the schools I visited valiant efforts are being made, as they are in many other schools across rural Uganda where charities or social enterprises are involved. The saving grace is that these students value everything that a school provides for them, especially the opportunity to improve their quality of life. They also value being safe and away from the many duties they would have to do if they were at home. They are incredibly well behaved, hold their teachers in high esteem no matter how proficient they are, and are always waiting to learn. A teachers' dream perhaps?
(An English lesson Secondary 4 - 90+ students)
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