In September 2000, the largest number of world leaders in history met together to adopt the “United Nations Millennium Declaration.” They committed to form a new global partnership to reduce extreme poverty, setting out a series of goals with a deadline of 2015. One of these was to provide Universal Public Education (UPE) for all children.
Uganda had already taken steps to UPE in 1997 by creating free primary education. For parents of poor families, it was an extraordinary opportunity. Enrollment in the government supported schools increased from 4.1 million pupils in 1996 to 8.4 million in 2013.
In many ways, UPE has been a success, but there are also many problems. This huge increase was faced with too small and few classrooms, failing infrastructure, few teachers, latrines, desks and supplies. While the goal is 60 pupils per class, often 90 pupils or more is common. Teachers become demoralized and walk away. While school fees are free, families are charged daily on many occasions for lunch, paper, bricks, and pencils – charges the rural poor cannot pay.
Academic performance, especially in rural areas, plummeted. Schools that once provided a good education could no longer do so. An estimated 78% of children who enroll in primary school are likely to drop out before graduating from their 7th and last year.
President Museveni recently warned school administrators that imposing fees on UPE pupils would not be tolerated. The goals are admirable but Achieving them challenging.
Think Africa Academy Primary School (TAAPS) is a private school run by Fund a child centre Organization and Interior safaris East Africa, receiving no government funding. Classes never exceed 30 pupils, and the quality of teaching is high. Its mission is to serve mostly families of the orphaned with extreme poverty, orphans and gifted children of the poor, yet this provides only a small portion of the funds needed to run the school. Without sponsorships, it could not exist.
Test results are some of the very highest in the District. Children are visibly healthy and happy