Uganda commemorates International Day of Education: Stakeholders call for increased Government investment in Education

“Education is the best investment a country can give its people.” This was the key message delivered in a joint statement made by Dr. Munir Safieldin - Chairperson Education Development Partners Group (EDPG) during the commemoration of the Fifth International Day of Education (IDE) in Uganda celebrated under the theme: ‘To invest in people, prioritize education’. This revelation comes against the backdrop of the country grappling with a significantly high dropout rates among learner in Uganda before they are able to complete a full cycle of education.

Building on the global momentum generated by the UN Transforming Education Summit in September 2022, UN Organizations in Uganda led by UNESCO in partnership with the Read to Learn Foundation and Ministry of Education and Sports convened at Makerere University’s, Yusuf Lule Auditorium to celebrate the IDE, on 24th January 2023 with further calls for maintaining strong political mobilization around education and charting the way to translate commitments and global initiatives into action. In attendance at the commemoration were young people across all levels of education, Academia, Civil Society Organizations, Development partners, among others.

The Chief Guest at the event was the Minister for Security represented by Mr. Jonathan Kamwana. He highlighted the Government of Uganda’s readiness to repurpose the education sector to support the country’s development visions noting that. “By 2030, every teacher should be a graduate. Education is the engine for development, and the teacher is the engine for education.” He continued to highlight that if the country is to turn around the current challenges affecting the sector, then massive efforts must be put in place to attract the best grades to join the teacher profession.

Ms. Rebecca Abeja, a Senior 3 student and a panelist at the event implored the government of Uganda to initiate education interventions right from the communities and grassroot levels before rolling them out into mainstream classrooms in school. “Particular emphasis should be placed on establishing community libraries that focuses on literacy, skilling and economics spearheaded by young people such that they (young people) are equipped with the basic knowledge of literacy and skills to dispense out to other fellow youths.”

Ms. Rosie Agoi - Secretary General National Commission for UNESCO presented the Future of Education Report. In her address she emphasized the need to reflect on the kind of education the country currently has vis-à-vis what the country aspires to have. “We need a new social contract for education that can repair past injustices while transforming the future.” She further added that there was an urgent need to rebalance our relationships with one another, with the planet, and with technology so as to realize better education outcomes.

Mr. Charles Draecabo – The UNESCO National Projects Coordinator and lead convener of the event while officiating at the commemoration reiterated the global call of the need to reflect on Education as a public good, a human right and a public responsibility underpinning that without inclusive and equitable education and lifelong learning opportunities for all, countries like Uganda will not succeed in achieving gender equality and breaking the cycle of poverty that is leaving millions of children behind.

The proceedings of the event were telecasted live on national television with the programming of the half-day event including key note addresses, panel discussions sessions targeting the representatives of the learners from primary and tertiary learning institution, with the discussion revolving around “Prioritizing Education for a Brighter Future” with particular emphasis on education in emergency situations, innovations in education, the role and impact of artificial intelligence; among others. 

Looking ahead, stakeholders appealed to the policy makers in Uganda to increase on the country’s domestic spending in the field of Education as a way of streamlining service delivery within the sector.