July: Education

Uganda Fact File on Education

Uganda Household Survey 2009/10:

Literacy: (those aged 15 and above who can read and write)

1. 1. Total population: 73%
   2. Urban: 73%
   3. Rural: 69%

School Life Expectancy (primary to tertiary education):

1. 1. 11 years (2009)
   2. Primary School Enrollment: 8.7 million
   3. Secondary School Enrollment: 1,537,000
   4. Both primary and secondary school enrollment levels increased in the five years leading to the survey

Primary school completion rate 57.18% 2010 (World Bank Report released in 2011)

2008 Uganda Bureau of Statistics report:

1. 1. Over 7 million children are enrolled in primary school and more than 579,734 in secondary.
   2. 92, 605 students were studying in the 27 universities nationwide.

Education Expenditure: (CIA World Fact Book)
3.2% of GDP (2009 figures)

Out of the 99,904 students who sat for A’level last year in 2010, only 61,820 qualified for university, leaving out 38,084.
http://www.sundayvision.co.ug/detail.php?mainNewsCategoryId=7&; newsCategoryId=123&newsId=748916
At independence, Uganda had one of the best higher education systems in Africa, attracting many students from neighboring countries

LEGATUM PROSPERITY INDEX 2011

Education – Ranked 98th
Very few Ugandans attend secondary school or university, resulting in a poorly educated workforce and a dissatisfied populace

Access to primary education is about average in Uganda, with net primary school enrollment levels of 92%. However, gross secondary education enrollment stands at 27%, and gross tertiary enrollment is 4%, placing Uganda among the bottom 10 countries for both variables. Uganda has near gender equality in primary and secondary education, while class sizes of 49 students per teacher at primary level place the country 103rd for the latter variable. Just over half of people surveyed were content with their local educational facilities, placing Uganda in the bottom 20 countries once again. A slightly higher 74% of people believed that children have daily opportunities to learn and grow in their society, which places Uganda 58th on this variable. Uganda has a very poorly educated workforce, as the typical worker has completed just 0.4 years of secondary education and 0.1 years of tertiary education, ranking the country 107th and 99th, respectively for these variables.
Legatum Prosperity Index 2011 – http://www.prosperity.com/country.aspx?id=UG

July 2012 Theme: EDUCATION

The ideas imparted through schools will grow over the years and produce fruit in the personal, social, political and economic life of the nation. They will lead to liberty or bondage
Edward Cain and Mariam Cain

 

Education more than just acquiring knowledge. It is the communication of values, beliefs and culture life from one generation to the next and affects every area of human experience. One can change the way people think and behave by manipulating the information and knowledge they get.

The quality of our culture is reflected in the quality of our education system.
The way we see our world, the values we hold important, the skills we feel are necessary, our opinions of the past, present, and future—all are clearly affected by our education and our educational philosophies.

It follows therefore that one of the major determinants of the kind of future Uganda will enjoy in the years ahead is the quality of our education system and the proportion of our population that will have gone through it. This month we reflect and take stock of Education in our society.

Commemorate:

1. 1. What has your personal journey in education been in the past 50 years ? How has the level and quality of education among your family members affected their quality of life and level of achievement?
   2. How available has education been for your community at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels?
   3. Who are the people whose lives are better today because you taught them something or helped them learn something?
   4. Who are the people that you teach, train, coach, mentor or disciple?

Celebrate:

1. 1. Celebrate the positive achievements in your educational journey as an individual, family, organization or community.Contemplate:
   2. What things can you do to correct the areas where you have not done well?
   3. What new horizons can you reach out for personally or help others you are responsible for or have influence over to reach out for?
   4. What plans are you putting in place for the enhancement of your education?
   5. (This does not have to be through formal education; it can be through self-study, apprenticeship or discipleship).
   6. These are the skills I plan to learn in the near future …………..
   7. The following are some people I plan to pass on some of the abilities that I have to …………
      

Jubilee Point of action for the month:

Consider helping a student who is working hard and yet struggling with fees For Community Leaders:

1. 1. Plan a teaching on the importance of education in one’s life
   2. Consider starting an adult literacy course
   3. Mobilize the community to help with a need in one of the local schools

Jubilee Prayer for the month:

Pray that the Uganda will regain its place as the education power house of the African continent with a system and quality of education that prepares her citizens to be God fearing, morally upright and equipped with knowledge and skills that make them relevant to the challenges and opportunities present in the nation.

 

Jubilee Pledge for the month:

I pledge to work towards utilizing the full mental capabilities and potential that God has gifted me with and help others do the same.

 

Remember!

One of the best gifts you can give any child is an education.