The government is considering implementing compulsory Universal Primary Education (UPE) starting from the next financial year, with plans to penalize parents who fail to enroll their children in school.
Under the proposed plan, any parent found with a child not attending school will face consequences. To support this initiative, the government has allocated additional funds to the UPE program to ensure access to education for all school-age children.
While the government has expressed its commitment to this endeavor, teachers represented by the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) have emphasized the need for adequate preparation to accommodate the anticipated increase in students.
Introduced in 1997, Universal Primary Education initially garnered widespread support. However, some families opted to pay for private schooling due to perceived shortcomings in the public system, while others kept their children out of school for various reasons.
In regions like Karamoja, challenges such as parental preference for livestock herding over formal education contribute to low enrollment rates. Additionally, factors like illiteracy among parents and limited access to schools result in children being left vulnerable to exploitation, including engaging in street begging.
The move towards compulsory UPE has garnered support from leaders in Karamoja, who view it as a step towards inclusive education. However, resistance persists among parents who prioritize traditional livelihoods over formal schooling for their children.
Challenges such as school shortages, dual-use of classrooms for both learning and accommodation, and long distances between home and school hinder enrollment and retention rates in Karamoja.
Despite efforts to provide free education, many parents still struggle to afford basic school supplies required by UPE schools. Regional leaders advocate for increased school construction and improved accessibility to address these challenges.
UNATU Secretary-General Filbert Baguma emphasizes the importance of addressing underlying issues such as automatic promotion policies, inadequate infrastructure, and low teacher salaries to ensure the success of compulsory education initiatives.
Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo announces a significant budget increase for UPE programs, earmarked for infrastructure improvements and construction projects. Plans are underway to enforce compulsory UPE at the district level, with potential penalties, including legal action against non-compliant parents.
While the compulsory education program will initially focus on primary schools, Muyingo hints at extending it to secondary education in the future. Despite over two decades since its inception, the government acknowledges persistent challenges in achieving high completion rates in primary education.
