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Government Programmes in Uganda - Education and Training
In order to increase the literacy rate, the Government embarked on a UPE programme. Under this programme, the Government pays school fees for four children in every family. Basic education is compulsory. Support to Universal Primary Education Reform (SUPER) (Ministry of Education and Sports) The Ministry of Education and Sports under the SUPER Project, has, through the National Curriculum Centre, revised the primary school curriculum to give it a gender perspective. Currently, in all schools girls have the same basic curriculum and the same choice of any options as boys. Programme for the promotion of Girls’ Education (PGE) (Ministry of Education and Sports) The PGE is being carried out in 15 districts in the country. The programme aims at mobilising communities about the importance of girls’ education, ensuring that girls have a friendly school environment, reducing school girl drop out rates and improving girls’ performance. Alternative Basic Education for Karamoja (ABEK) Programme (Ministry of Education and Sports) Karamoja is a district in north eastern Uganda where the inhabitants are basically nomads. The ABEK is intended to provide flexible education Programmes for those who did not get the opportunity to go to school or dropped out. The Programme is intended to complement the UPE so as to enable those children who are not enrolled in the formal schools get the opportunity to get basic education. The majority of children enrolled in ABEK programme are girls, who form 67% of the total enrolment. The Education Strategic Investment Plan 1997-2003 (Ministry of Education and Sports) In order to ensure good quality education for girls, the Government has initiated strategies to remove all gender biases from all aspects of the curriculum and all the processes in the education system. The Plan highlights plans to provide vocational skills and training opportunities for primary school leavers or drop outs by establishing community polytechnics in sub-counties (a kind of administrative unit). Affirmative Action in Education (Ministry of Education and Sports) The Government, through Affirmative Action, has taken steps to rectify gender imbalances at the University level. In 1990, a 1.5 point “bonus” was added to the scores of female candidates qualifying for admission to Makerere University to increase their numbers at the University. Functional Adult Literacy (FAL) Programmes (Ministry of Education and Sports) The fact that the literacy level for women are still lower than those of men led the Government to embark on the FAL programmes. The programmes, which are aimed at raising the literacy level of women, are conducted at district level. More women than men enrol for the classes. Agricultural Extension Project (Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries) Under the project, rural women are mobilized and trained in all aspects of agricultural production, fish farming and record keeping.
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