The educational landscape in Uganda is dominated by entrenched challenges that continue to hold the country back from its development goals. Problems such as substandard education, weak facilities, insufficiency of tutors, and financial challenges prevail. Despite these challenges, there are some models that have seen some success in the country of nearly 48 million people, and through these, Uganda has made tremendous progress in broadening access to education.

In this piece, we examine the specific context of Uganda's education system and consider how new models and institutions are making a way forward, creating resilience, and encouraging development.

The pervasive challenges

One of the educational barriers in Uganda is unequal access to education throughout society. Uganda has one of the highest rates of exclusion from education in the world. Around 20 percent of primary school children are not enrolled in school, and 12.5 percent of those who were enrolled in school are not attending classes. School charges, inadequate infrastructure, and socio-economic disparities are some of the factors that contribute to these barriers. 

Another issue is that even for those in school, the quality of education is generally poor. Obsolete curricula, the absence of teaching materials, and untrained teachers are responsible for poor learning outcomes. In rural areas, it is more pronounced, further exacerbating the urban-rural divide. 

Finally, financial restraints and the cost of education are major barriers that prevent children from accessing education. Most households face rising and unpredictable school fees, which lead to students dropping out of school. 

Models for resilience and growth

Despite all these issues, several models have been created to promote resilience and growth that have proven successful in Uganda's educational landscape:

UniHouse's Holistic Approach: UniHouse is a global education, training, and career development solutions firm founded in 1999. It collaborates with governments and organizations to offer programs across diverse economic and cultural settings, empowering individuals and companies. 

BRAC Uganda: BRAC has developed education interventions among marginalized children, especially girls, through community schools and mentoring. The Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers and support among adolescent girls have shown measurable gains in learning outcomes.

Educate!: This social enterprise empowers Uganda's secondary school students with entrepreneurship and leadership skills through experiential education. By integrating practical business skills into the curriculum, Educate! closes the gap between education and employment.

School for Life Foundation: Emphasizing rural and poor communities, School for Life provides high-quality primary education with increased emphasis on community participation, teacher training, and infrastructural improvement.

War Child Holland: Based in conflict zones in Uganda, War Child runs fast-tracked learning programmes and psychosocial support for out-of-school or missed year children because of trauma or displacement.

STiR Education: Working with education ministries, STiR supports teacher motivation and innovation. In Uganda, it runs peer-led professional development networks that encourage reflective practice and continuous improvement among educators.

Strategic advisory services

Strategic advisory services are critical to solving Uganda's education problems and facilitating sustainable development. 

Officials must be strategic about policy formulation and implementation, as effective policy is key to enhancing Uganda's education system. This includes updating teacher recruitment and training policy, inclusive curricula that are sensitive to local contexts and languages, and eliminating the hidden school fees that discourage enrolment.

Another potential avenue for improving Uganda's educational sector is public-private partnerships. Governments and the private sector can work together to bridge gaps in resources, especially in school facilities, e-learning, and vocational training. Partnerships can also facilitate the creation of curricula that are aligned with the needs of the labour market, improving employability among young people and giving them skills that match market needs. 

Finally, Uganda should invest in capacity-building initiatives. In-service professional development for teachers and school administrators is essential. Programs that support instructional leadership, school governance, and classroom management can positively affect learning environments.

While there are considerable challenges to Uganda's education system, there are also clear ways forward. Companies and organizations like UniHouse and Shimizu Corporation and grassroots programs like BRAC Uganda, Educate!, and STiR Education provide scalable models for strengthening education systems. With strategic policy reforms, cross-sector coordination, and investment in capacity building, Uganda can create a more resilient and equitable education system. This, in turn, sets a solid foundation for broader socio-economic growth and long-term national development. By Mohamed Mohamud, Global Voices