Education is considered to be a powerful tool for growth throughout many sectors in Uganda. The country has even labeled education as a key component for driving for social growth, economic development, and transformation since becoming politically independent, as well as helping to achieve a more united nation and democratic reforms.
By Deanna Fanelli, Farahana Cajuste, Declan Cetta and Amanya Emmanuel.
Introduction
In addition, Uganda’s vision 2040, which provides paths to becoming a more prosperous nation, highlights education as a crucial mechanism for economic growth by providing human capital (Tumwesige, 1). However, the COVID-19 pandemic poses serious threats to the access of education in Uganda, and innovative solutions are needed to support this sector and ensure the continued education of rural populations.
Uganda’s education system uses the following structure: 7 years of primary education, 6 years of secondary education, and 3-5 years of post-secondary education, and students can choose between private and public schools depending on their resources (Tumwesige, 2). However, there are significant gaps between school enrollment in rural and urban areas. Students are more likely to complete primary school in urban areas as opposed to rural areas, and around 91% of children attend primary school in urban areas, compared to 85% in rural areas. This gap is more noticeable in secondary education, as 38% of children of secondary school age in urban areas attend school, compared to only 14% of children in rural areas (EPDC, 3-6). Female literacy rates are much larger in urban areas as opposed to rural areas, and incomes are higher in urban areas as well. Finally, 80% of Uganda’s school-age children live in rural areas that are characterized by a lack of resources for basic living and underdeveloped infrastructure for education (Tumwesige, 7). As the pandemic continues, education in poorer rural areas will be hit the hardest due to underlying disparities.
Significance of Research Topic
The nation-wide lockdown left approximately 15 million children out of school, but the lockdown will not impact all regions equally. For example, the UN estimates that the pandemic’s impact in the education sector will be greatly borne by low and average-income households in both private and public schools. In addition, the loss of instructional time due to lockdowns will hurt the poorest communities the most because education is a key player in reducing poverty (UNDP, 14). Uganda also has a very young population, with approximately 75% of the population being below the age of 30 (Among & Munavu). Supporting the education sector is critical, because such a larger percentage of the population has the potential to increase capital and improve economic growth. In the age of COVID-19, distance learning has become synonymous with technology, but there are massive gaps in access to technology among urban and rural areas in Uganda, which perpetuates inequality.
Problem Area (1)
The resource disparities between rural and urban areas are exacerbated by the pandemic, as rural areas are less likely to have access to the technology needed to successfully implement distance learning. Technologies including radio, television, or and the internet are some of the ways that nation-states are choosing to broadcast educational lessons to reach a wide portion of their population. A survey conducted by The National IT in 2017-2018 found that Ugandan homes had access to the following technologies:
However, these numbers are reflective of the entire population and do not take into account the differences between urban and rural areas. For example, only approximately 8% of households in rural areas have access to the national electricity grid, compared to 71.2% in urban areas (Lighting Africa). Electricity is critically important in the age of the pandemic, as electricity is needed to power the technologies used for remote learning. This digital divide will have a larger impact in rural areas which will contribute to economic and educational inequality.
Problem Area (2)
Few people question the economic benefits of education. As noted in a 2020 World Bank Study, “[I]n Africa, each year of schooling raises average earnings by 11.3% for males and 14.5% for females.” (The World Bank) Education is the main driver for moving people out of poverty, potentially “improving the livelihoods of up to 420 million people in Africa” (GPE). The problem is Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rates (49%) of children not being reached due to COVID-19, which results in many economic implications (UNICEF).
While education provides many intellectual and financial benefits to society, school also serves as a place where children develop mentally, physically, and socially. Without school, children become susceptible to many environmental risk factors that may stunt their development. This is especially true for children living in a rural setting where the “digital divide” makes virtual education nearly impossible to access. With “over 15 million children out of school as a result of COVID-19,” a sustainable solution, that provides children with the necessary environment for healthy development, is needed (Tumwesige, 13). This generation of young people who are losing access to education will become the professionals of the future who drive and make-up the economy. The technology gap, as well as the absence of other vital social factors school provides, could result in various mental health issues in the population (UNESCO). In order to mitigate the rise of these disorders in Ugandan youth, an action plan must be implemented on a community level to ensure structure and support.
