HOW CAN THE DEM SCHOOL BREAK EVEN GIVEN THE UPE CHAINS?

HOW CAN THE DEM SCHOOL BREAK EVEN GIVEN THE UPE CHAINS?
You need to know the facts to understand what is going on in our so-called Universal Primary Education (UPE) Schools in Uganda. In our times at primary (1960’s and 1970’s), there were Government grants to Government Aided Schools. These made a lot of sense as the money was spent on buying exercise books, text books, chalk, etc. We got all the exercise books from the school and the textbooks for reference – these were basic for our learning, yet the teachers were relatively paid a living wage and the cost of living was not the type it is today.
I am involved with a project proposal where the donor is ready to help with the school fees and other school requirements of children in HIV/AIDS affected circumstances including those staying with grand mothers. This gave me exposure into what is needed to have a child study today in a UPE school. Majority of this schools charge school fees given that the UPE money is a drop in the ocean and Head teachers are not even sure as to when the monies are to be sent yet the schools have to run on. I found out that:
1) Fees to the tune of shs 25,000 is paid per child
2) Uniform charges range from shs 15,000 to 20,000 on average
3) Lunch this is shs 25,000 where a child is to have food and less if it is porridge
4) Books – at least a dozen 96 page books per term which is 6,000/-
5) Toilet paper at least 2 rolls per term
6) Pens
7) Pencils
8) Geometry set.

Now, given the above, what logic is the termly UPE money which does not buy a full kilo of sugar at shs 2,400? To me UPE is a big joke and serious people should steer out of that UPE fiasco and get to serious business to see our schools run efficiently given the costs on ground.

I therefore appeal to all stakeholders in Namutamba Dem School to get out of the UPE dream land, stand up to the realities of the day, face the challenges and see the school revived.
I remember; the Dem School has reasonable amount of land where we used to do gardening. This land ought to be utilized intensively. Nothing like land being unproductive, there must be a way to grow crops there for the benefit of the children.
2ndly, it is a paying undertaking to rear local chicken. These have fewer diseases that management is relatively cheaper, easier with sure good market for the eggs and chicken.
3rd, Piggery can give good returns when the right breed is managed.
4th, there should be a venture into solar lighting for children in case there are some borders, as it is relatively cheaper to sustain after installation is complete.
5th, children should be availed papers to exercise/review in line with what better performing schools have given that it is the style to review papers to maximize chances of good grades.
6th, all teachers should endeavour to do their part meanwhile strategies are thought to see them better off.
7th, children MUST be encouraged to style up, work hard for success.


GOVERNMENT URGED TO REVIEW UPE PROGRAMME
The Democratic Party has called upon the government to revise the Universal Primary Education Programme in order to ensure quality primary education in UPE schools across the country.
The President General of the Democratic Party, John Ssebaana Kizitor says that the high rate of failures declared by the Uganda National Examinations Board in the Primary Leaving Examinations is due to poor education in UPE schools.
The 2008 primary leaving examination results recorded the worst performance in recent years, with more than 80, 000 pupils failing to pass PLE, which means they can not continue to secondary.

Addressing journalists at the party’s weekly press briefing on Tuesday, Ssebaana said many UPE schools had declined in performance due to the government policy that promotes automatic promotion of pupils.
He says there is also limited teaching going on in UPE schools, since teachers are paid little money, not well supervised, while some schools misappropriate funds meant for running the schools.
UNEB Secretary, Mathew Bukenya told Journalists at the release of the results last week that most pupils failed because they could not interpret questions due to failure to understand English.
Ssebaana says the government must address the problems in UPE schools in order to offer universal education that will benefit the learners.

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Ultimate Media


William Kituuka Kiwanuka