Since the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) in Uganda in 1997, primary school enrollment has increased significantly. However, educational challenges remain substantial:
Low Primary Completion Rates: Only about 20% of children in Uganda complete primary school, with many dropping out due to poverty, early marriages, and other socio-economic factors.
Overcrowded and Under-resourced Schools: Many schools are overcrowded, and lack essential resources, such as textbooks, desks, and teaching materials. Teacher-to-student ratios remain high, with one teacher often managing up to 55 students or more, affecting the quality of education.
Gender Disparities in Education: Girls, in particular, face additional barriers. They often miss school due to a lack of sanitary facilities or drop out early due to poverty and cultural expectations, especially during adolescence.
Children with Disabilities: Around 9% of children in Uganda live with disabilities, but the majority do not attend school due to a lack of accessible facilities and inclusive teaching approaches.
These issues highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve educational quality and accessibility across the country
Basic Education Initiatives. Agrifund implements both formal and non-formal education programs aimed at reaching children who otherwise would not attend school. This includes:
- Teacher Training: Agrifund provides training to teachers and education officials to improve teaching quality and address overcrowded classrooms.
- Infrastructure Development: Agrifund builds essential school facilities, including classrooms, libraries, and gender-appropriate washrooms, to create safe and conducive learning environments.
- Educational Materials: By providing textbooks, desks, and other materials, Agrifund reduces the resource gap and enhances the learning experience.
- Community Engagement: Agrifund collaborates with communities to increase parental involvement, encouraging families to support their children’s education, which is particularly crucial in areas where school attendance rates are low.
Inclusive Education Programs. Agrifund is committed to making education accessible for all children, especially girls and children with disabilities:
- Support for Girls’ Education: Agrifund promotes girls’ education by teaching them how to make reusable sanitary pads and building sanitary facilities in schools, addressing a significant reason for girls’ absenteeism.
- Accessible Learning for Children with Disabilities: Working with partners, Agrifund enhances school accessibility for children with disabilities and trains teachers in inclusive education techniques to support children with learning difficulties. This approach allows children with diverse needs to learn alongside their peers.
Advocacy for Educational Policy. Agrifund collaborates with government entities and stakeholders to advocate for inclusive education policies. Through participation in educational forums and policy discussions, they push for systemic changes to ensure educational access for marginalized groups, including orphans, girls, and children with disabilities.
Early Childhood Development (ECD) in Uganda faces significant challenges. Only around 10% of children aged 3 to 5 are enrolled in formal pre-primary education, largely due to the fact that most preschools are privately run, expensive, and located primarily in urban areas. Community-based ECD centers are often underfunded, lack essential infrastructure, and are staffed by untrained volunteers, making it difficult to reach disadvantaged children in rural areas. Moreover, a significant percentage of children under five lack access to clean water, contributing to high rates of malnutrition and child mortality. Access to essential health services is also limited, with 25% of births occurring outside health facilities and Uganda’s immunization rates among the lowest in East Africa.
The government, supported by organizations like UNICEF, has made efforts to improve this situation. Since the launch of the Uganda Integrated ECD Policy in 2016, various initiatives aim to offer integrated ECD services that encompass health, nutrition, and safe environments, focusing on the first critical years of life. UNICEF has also emphasized child nutrition, maternal health, and early childhood health interventions, alongside improvements in water, sanitation, and birth registration, to build a foundation for human capital development in Uganda. The ECD initiatives are seen as essential for Uganda’s Vision 2040, as investing in early childhood is viewed as a pathway to breaking cycles of poverty and achieving sustainable national development goals.
- Provision of Scholastic and Teaching Materials: Agrifund equips ECD centers with scholastic materials, such as books, pencils, and learning aids. This is essential for nurturing literacy and numeracy skills in young children, preparing them for primary school. Agrifund also supplies teaching materials to enhance the quality of instruction, helping educators create interactive and stimulating learning environments.
- Construction and Renovation of ECD Classrooms: Recognizing the infrastructure gaps in Uganda’s ECD landscape, Agrifund invests in building and refurbishing ECD classrooms, particularly in rural areas where facilities are limited. These safe, child-friendly spaces are equipped with appropriate furniture and educational tools, creating an environment conducive to learning and social interaction. This infrastructure development aligns with Agrifund’s mission to provide inclusive education that reaches even the most remote communities.
- Capacity Building for ECD Center Committees: Agrifund provides training to ECD center management committees, ensuring sustainable operations and effective program delivery. Through these sessions, committee members learn skills such as budget management and community engagement, which are crucial for maintaining high-quality services in ECD centers.
- School Feeding and Nutrition Programs: To support children’s physical and cognitive development, Agrifund implements school feeding programs that provide balanced meals. Good nutrition during early childhood is essential for brain development and has long-term effects on health and learning outcomes.
- Health Initiatives in Partnership with Local Health Teams: Agrifund collaborates with Village Health Teams (VHTs) to promote immunizations, vitamin supplementation, and other health interventions that protect young children from preventable diseases. These efforts support the health of children under five, ensuring they have the foundational health required for learning and growth.
- Collaborative Efforts for Licensing and Government Support: Agrifund works closely with local governments to ensure ECD centers are formally registered and licensed. This collaboration enhances regulation, accountability, and quality standards, making ECD services safer and more effective across the country.