Education
Universal Primary Education
In September 2000, the largest number of world leaders in history met together to adopt the “UN Millennium Declaration.” They committed to 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 towards 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 3.1 million students in 1996 to 8.4 million in 2013.
The demand and need have continued growing. In 2022 , about 45% of the population of Uganda was 14 or younger.
In many ways, Ugandan UPE has been a success, but serious challenges remain.
The huge increase in students in schools obligated to take whoever wanted to attend was met with too few classrooms, too few teachers, too few latrines, desks and supplies. The goal is supposed to be no more than 60 students per class, but classes may be much larger. Teachers become demoralized and walk away. Schools are “free”, but operating support from the government may be too little. Parents may need to pay for uniforms, lunch, and school supplies, which leaves many of the rural poor unable to keep their children in school.
Academic performance, especially in rural areas, plummeted after UPE began. An estimated 68% of children who enroll in primary school are likely to drop out before graduating.
President Yoweri Museveni has warned school administrators that imposing fees on UPE students would not be tolerated, but the schools may have no choice.
The government goals are admirable. Achieving them is difficult.
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Sources used for this article include:
http://www.eenet.org.uk/resources/eenet_newsletter/news4/page7.phpeenet.org.uk/resources/eenet_newsletter/news4/page7.php
Bwindi Watoto Primary School
Bwindi Watoto Primary School (BWS) was founded in 2008 to offer opportunity to Bwindi’s most vulnerable and gifted children.
Many of the children attending Bwindi Watoto have only one living or involved parent or none at all. It is common in rural Uganda that if a parent leaves the relationship and remarries, the children of the original marriage stay with either the other parent or with a grandparent. The grandparents are often elderly and have no income. It is rare that the children are accepted into a parent’s new family.
It is hard for a single mother or a grandparent to support the children. They must have a large “garden” in which to plant many crops or some other source of income.
One of the cultural realities in rural Uganda is that when fathers are left as the sole parent, they sometimes become overwhelmed and break down. Tribal custom – which is hardly a step away in time – were that fathers did not become involved in child raising.
Parents die from AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, diabetes – and perhaps simply despair. Most families with children at Watoto make less than $500 per year. Children are often imperiled, and an education is not even a possibility.
Bwindi Watoto school receives no government assistance, which generally permits the school to keep class size small and the overall quality of education up. However, because Watoto takes no government funding, tuition fees and donations must support the school.
Also, even though BWS receives no money from the government does not mean we are independent. Our hands are often tied no less than schools who do receive help.
Because well over half of school parents live in extreme poverty, many cannot pay all or any of the school fees.
A bit more than half our total student body is sponsored, though this is not enough to pay for our basic operating costs. We depend on other donations and grants for help. Those donations help finance well over half our student population. We always need more sponsorships and more donations. When a student loses a sponsor, BWS is in a constant and difficult balancing act of deciding who must return home, and who is able to stay in school.
Without outside sponsorships and general donations, the school cannot pay its bills.
Today about 190 students attend Watoto. All sponsored students board at the school. Boarding provides the best opportunity for consistent academic work, a healthy and positive environment and positive community and much more nutritious food than they would be likely to receive at home. All students receive both morning porridge and the midday, main meal ensuring everyone eats well. The students also receive two nutritious snacks during the school day. A light dinner is provided for boarding students after school.
It is best if children can attend the three years of Nursery School. Primary education lasts another seven years, ending after seventh grade.
Sponsorships are used to pay for everything from teachers’ salaries to food, providing healthy sanitation to supporting a full-time nurse.
All sponsored children receive annual “school packages.” Every newly sponsored child receives a mattress, sheets and a blanket. Sponsored children receive other supplies annually, such as school shoes, clothing, a metallic lock box, personal supplies and school supplies.
Prior to COVID, the basics of critical thinking were introduced into what is primarily a rote education curriculum set by the government. When school is in session, a little time is set aside every day for critical thinking. We hope eventually that it can be integrated throughout the day. We also have a non-reader program for children of all ages and years who can not read at all or need help reading better.
The specifics may vary term-to-term, year-to-year and sometimes even child-to-child, but the goal of Bwindi Watoto School and Educate Bwindi is always the same: to create a happy, healthy environment in which children can learn.
Bishop Comboni College Kambuga
For many years Educate Bwindi has made it possible for sponsors to send their children to one of the top secondary schools in the district – Bishop Comboni College Kambuga (BCCK).
BCCK is a separate school from Bwindi Watoto School and charges tuition. A sponsorship of a child at Bwindi Watoto School does not cover the cost of secondary education at BCCK. All BCCK students are required to board.
The cost is not inexpensive, but it is worthy of serious consideration for sponsors after their child graduates from Watoto.
BCCK has developed a strong reputation throughout the Ugandan academic community despite its rural location and without the extensive resources available to wealthier schools in the capital, Kampala.
BCCK has never failed to impress by its on-going efforts to improve the school and education experience in every way. For academically strong students, it is the only choice. Almost every student who attends flourishes and finds a future.
The first-year costs include a large package of personal and school supplies for all students. Watoto students also need help with bus fare to and from school every term. They also receive a small amount of pocket money to purchase basic items as the school year moves forward.
We require that every parent of a student who attends BCCK participates financially in the costs of secondary education. For most of our parents, grandparents and guardians we ask for a few basic needs. It may not be easy for the family, but most families can pay what is necessary. The goal is to make sure the adult in charge has “skin in the game” and hopefully a sense of pride in contributing.
Ugandan education follows the British model. The first four years of secondary education are called “O” levels which, if the sponsor helps, leads to a vocational program after secondary graduation.
In order to enter University, two more years of education called “A” levels are necessary. All of this involves direct conversation between Educate Bwindi and the sponsor.
For further information about costs and other questions please contact us at [email protected].
Vocational Programs
A large variety of vocational programs begin after the fourth year of secondary school, though another two years of secondary education is required, following the British method, if a student is going to University.
However, in an effort to help increase the number of secondary and vocational students looking for a job, the government now requires that all students choose one of five vocational programs offered by every secondary school. This required vocation program lasts for three years.
Trades, such as construction, utilities, plumber, electrician, auto repair make good practical choices for some students.
We are always available for discussion, recommendations, and solutions.
University
Students must complete all six years of secondary school to be eligible for university.
Very few government grants are available to students coming from rural areas, such Bwindi.
Only one in 8 students will receive a sponsorship. Ninety-seven percent of students awarded scholarships receive less than $2,500, which is not enough to keep them in a program. Only 0.2% of students receive scholarships worth $25,000 or more. Full-ride scholarships (education + living expenses) are awarded to only about 0.1% of students
Nonetheless, even graduation from university does not guarantee work. Unemployment among Ugandan graduates is over 50%. Many university graduates who are working are underemployed.
Because of these challenges, it is vital a student is academically and socially prepared to succeed in university. Educate Bwindi works with sponsors to identify appropriate fields of studies.