A Generational Issue

How Generations are Vulnerably Deprived of their Right to Education

Most Ugandan children are unable to attain an education primarily due to generational poverty. While Uganda has noticed an increase in primary school enrollment, dropout rates remain high in secondary and higher institutions of learning. A bigger percentage of those from poor families and underserved areas drops out by the time they are completing primary education. More so, increase in enrollment alone does not produce knowledge capital, most of the children are not trained beyond basic education given the quality of education delivered by the affordable schools.

According to a 2016 poverty assessment by the World Bank, the number of Ugandans living below the poverty line declined from 31.1% in 2006 to 19.7% in 2013, however the country still remains among the poorest in the world. The drivers of poverty and eventually illiteracy in Uganda include limitedness of safety net programs. This increases the vulnerability of households to fall back into poverty. In 2013, it was reported that only 1% of Uganda’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was spent on social security. This percentage is much lower than the 2.8% average for Sub-Saharan Africa. Due to this lack of social security, 35% of Ugandans rely on their life savings and 25% rely on their families. This makes falling back into poverty highly likely for a majority of people.A World Bank study in Africa found that a child born in Uganda will be only 38% as productive when she grows up as she could be if she enjoyed complete education and full health, an opportunity that most children are deprived of due to poverty. Children who have not gone to school will not be employed or are rather doing odd jobs with less pay. The study adds that each year of schooling raises average earnings by 11.3% for males and 14.5% for females. Given the situation, most children who have not gone to school are unable to educate their own children which is most likely to affect generations after.

To mitigate this and more risks that originate from illiteracy, Friends of Humanity (FOHU) implements a program that supports children who are susceptible to dropping out of school after primary level. These children are supported to attain quality education and all basic needs are provided until they complete their education. From experience, most of the children supported by FOHU have/are supported(ing) their families and other vulnerable children to attain an education thus generations benefit from any support given to a single child.

Support a child’s education through FOHU and end generational poverty!