Challenges facing this policy in Uganda

The Universal Secondary Education policy that key in promoting literacy in Uganda is however faced with a number of challenges which include;

There is an overwhelming enrollments in the schools under the policy. There are many children in the USE schools yet there are few teachers and infrastructures since there are very many children in the classroom, the learning is not effective. The purpose of the policy is thus unfulfilled making the policy is ineffective.

The Universal Secondary School policy is also affected by corruption and embezzlement of government funds for the development of the schools usually divert the money to either personal business. This has left many schools poorly funded, incomplete infrastructure and poorly equipped classrooms and laboratory such things affect performance in USE schools. This is the reason private schools continue  out compete the government school in terms of performance.

There is a continued drop out of school by the children. not so many children that are enrolled in school complete school. They get out of school before completion. This is so common for the girls who are dragged into early marriage and unintended pregnancy. The high rate of dropouts means wastage of resources.

The USE programme is also affected by the unwillingness of parents and care takers to support their children through school. Many parents do not want to give up their land for construction of schools. They continue to fight for their land even if the programme benefits them. Many parents do not even provide the meals that the school demands for their children are providers of labour at home and so do not allow them go to school in time. Some girls are taken to marriage before completion.

 There is inadequate funding of the schools under the USE policy. Schools are very in bad shape; the have inadequate infrastructure, poorly facilitated libraries and laboratories and other important things. This makes USE school’s poor learning facilities that cannot fulfill the purpose of the programme.

The Universal Secondary Education programme is also faced lack of willing and committed teachers. Many teachers do not like working in government schools because of the poor facilitation and working conditions. Government does not motivate the teachers and poorly pays them. This makes them abandon that are assumed in private schools. The children in government schools are thus cheated.

In conclusion therefore, there is need for regular and proper supervision in such school to enable the effectiveness of the USE policy.