The Civil Society in Uganda has recommended that the government should ensure that the pupils that enroll in the schools under Universal Primary Education complete their primary education.

Pulpils in Uganda. many are unable to finish primary school

The civil society organizations are concerned that the benefits of the universal primary education in Uganda are being undermined by the high school dropout rate, especially of girls.

Though the enrollment of pupils in primary schools has substantially increased as result of Universal Primary Education with 7 million pupils enrolling in UPE schools since 1997 when the program started, the high dropout rate which stands at 65% in the UPE schools has undermined the achievements of the program.

In the Civil Society Alternative Proposals to the National Budget Framework for the Financial Year at 2009/10 prepared by the Civil Society Budget Advocacy Group, Civil Society organizations say in order increase retention of pupils in school, the government needs to attract and retain more teachers to UPE schools in hard to reach areas, reduce teacher and pupil absenteeism plus increase the budget allocation to the School Facilities Grant and increasing affirmative action for the girl child in rural areas.

The organizations led by the NGO Forum say that it is unfortunate that the budget allocation to primary education declined from 50% in the financial year 2008/9 to 43% in the Financial Year 2009/2010 yet the enrollment is increasing.

The say that by doing this the budget has directly contributed to the dropout rates because of the less funding yet it should be reducing the high dropout rates in the various UPE schools.

The government increased in the budgetary allocation to education in the Uganda 2010/2011 national budget read by Finance Minister Syda Bbumba on June 11, 2010.

By Tiberindwa Zakaria, Ultimate Media