John Chrysostom Muyingo, the Minister of State for Higher Education has revealed that the Ministry of Education has registered an increase in gross enrolment in primary schools.
According to Muyingo, the increment follows the introduction of Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1997.
He made the revelation on March 19, 2024, while delivering a statement to the press concerning the International Day of Education at the Uganda Media Centre.
“Following the introduction of UPE in 1997, gross enrolment in primary schools has increased from 2.5 million in 1996 to over 8.6 million in 2023,” Muyingo said.
“The increase in enrolment, especially through UPE has significantly boosted primary school enrolment rates, allowing more children, particularly from low-income families, to access education,” Muyingo added.
Muyingo said that since January 2024, 1668 teachers have been deployed further enhancing the Ministry’s teaching capacity, adding that a lot is going to be done in the next financial years to push for more competent and qualified teachers in our schools.
Due to increased government funding, the gender parity index has improved from 0.88 in 1997 to 1.04 in 2021, reflecting the ministry’s commitment to inclusive education.
