Mulindwa Ismael, Director Basic and Secondary Education and other educational stakeholders launching the research on Thursday (PHOTO/Nelson Mandela).KAMPALA – The Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) has released a groundbreaking report on governance and accountability in Uganda’s public primary education. Conducted in Yumbe, Namayingo, and Sheema districts, this research is part of the Strengthening Public Investment and Accountability in Education Project.The project aims to improve social accountability mechanisms at the local level for equitable learning. It’s implemented in partnership with the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group and the Uganda Society for Disabled Children.Uganda’s government is obliged to develop a plan for compulsory basic education. However, despite implementing Universal Primary Education (UPE), the government lacks a detailed formal plan or policy.Under UPE, the government is responsible for paying tuition fees/capitation grants, providing textbooks and instructional materials, recruiting, deploying, and paying teaching and non-teaching staff, and infrastructure development. However, UPE schools face funding gaps, leading to parents shouldering the burden of financing their children’s education.District officials in Namayingo, Sheema, and Yumbe report absenteeism, inadequate classrooms, and lack of teacher accommodation. Local governments are mandated to plan, manage, and supervise primary education delivery. However, their fiscal capacity is weak, and funding remains dependent on central government disbursements.Foundation bodies, mainly faith-based organizations, operate grant-aided schools. They have significant representation on School Management Committees (SMCs) but create parallel governing structures. The Education Act, 2008, mandates foundation bodies to participate in ensuring proper management of schools and policy formulation.Wafana Michael, ISER consultant, notes that despite progress, governance and accountability in public primary education face significant challenges. “Inadequate funding, weak policy frameworks, and poor governance undermine effective implementation.”Key challenges include inadequate funding, absenteeism, inadequate classrooms, lack of teacher accommodation, and limited parental involvement. The report recommends amendments to the Education Act, increased UPE funding, standardized monitoring formats, and clarified roles for foundation bodies.The Government through Mulindwa Ismael, Director Basic and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports recognized the significance of good governance and accountability in ensuring the effective delivery of quality education.“Strategic direction, effective oversight, and optimal utilization of resources are essential components of a well-functioning education system.”According to him, Uganda has made notable progress in expanding access to public primary education, particularly through the Universal Primary Education program. He noted that launched in 1997, UPE has transformed the educational landscape, increasing enrollment from 3.1 million to 10 million learners.“Currently, 99% of government-aided primary schools implement UPE, with over 70% of primary education learners enrolled in UPE schools.”However, despite these gains, Mulindwa admitted challenges persist. He says that the quality of education remains a pressing concern, with low survival rates to Primary 7 and limited transition to Secondary 1. Various stakeholders, including civil society organizations, attribute these challenges to inadequate funding.While funding is indeed crucial, this report highlights that weaknesses in governance and accountability mechanisms also undermine the effective delivery of quality primary education. “As the Ministry of Education and Sports, we acknowledge our primary responsibility in ensuring effective governance and accountability.”Specific recommendations include:To Parliament and Ministry of Education and Sports, amend the Education Act to make DES recommendations binding on local governments and ensure adequate UPE funding. To Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, provide phased funding for UPE capitation grants and factor in inflationary pressure.To Directorate of Education Standards, develop standardized monitoring formats and enhance teacher capacity building. To Foundation Bodies, sign comprehensive MoU with MoES and clarify roles and responsibilities.To School Management Committees, ensure effective accountability and foster parental involvement. To District Local Governments, ensure SMC sub-committees are constituted and submit termly reports to the District Education Office.Mulindwa pledged that this report’s findings and recommendations will be critically considered in the Basic Education Technical Working Group discussions and sector performance review processes.“The timing of this report is opportune, as we embark on amending the Education (Pre-Primary, Primary and Post-Primary) Act 2008 and reviewing School Management Committee regulations.”By addressing these challenges, Uganda can provide quality, equitable education for all, unlocking a brighter future for its children. Effective governance, accountability, and funding are critical.The report emphasizes the need for collaborative efforts from government, local leaders, educators, and civil society organizations to strengthen public primary education. By implementing these recommendations, Uganda can overcome the challenges facing its education system.Related