“The future of vulnerable children can only be assured through access to basic education.”
The Challenges
Although Uganda recently adopted the policy of Universal Primary Education (UPE), public schools are often overcrowded, under-staffed, and charge additional fees (teacher fees, lunch, uniform, etc). As a result, many families are still unable to send their children to school. Other children attend school sporadically, as finances and circumstances allow, causing them to lag behind their grade levels.
After primary school, moving on to secondary school is difficult in Uganda. School fees are higher, schools are fewer, and many students are not able to continue due to poor performance on primary exams. Yet, secondary school is so important when it comes to a successful education. Graduates of secondary school can move on to University and obtain higher paying jobs in the future. Only 3% of Uganda’s population attend tertiary institutions, but many of these students will go on to be leaders in their communities and in Uganda.
For those students unable to attend secondary school, vocational training is a viable option for acquiring skills and ensuring a means of future income.
MercyLine is addressing access to education by offering educational support to vulnerable children and by creating a primary school at the MercyLine Children’s Home for the youngest children. The school opened in February of 2017 and is called Beret’s Light Kindergarten School.
With MercyLine’s educational support program, sponsored children have their school fees and supplies paid, which allows them to attend school consistently.