The Government of Uganda has launched the Second Education Response Plan (ERP II) for refugee and host communities, with a call for more donor support to improve the quality of education of refugees.
Speaking at the launch of ERP II in Kampala on Wednesday, the Minister for Relief, Disaster Preparedness, and Refugees, Eng. Hilary Onek, said that while some funds have been allocated to support the education of refugees, the current amount is insufficient given that more refugees continue coming into Uganda on a daily basis.
He said the continuous influx of refugees is placing immense pressure on the already limited educational resources within local communities. The strain is particularly evident in schools, where many classrooms lack proper infrastructure such as walls and electricity.
Moreover, he said, there is a severe shortage of teachers, exacerbating the challenges, and a scarcity of fundamental educational materials such as books and desks.
Ketty Lamaro, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, said the new Education Response Plan (ERP II), valued at 1.67 trillion shillings, is expected to bring significant benefits to a total of 675,000 individuals from both refugee and host communities between the financial years 2022-2023 and 2024-2025.
Mohamed El Munir A. Safieldin, the UNICEF Country Representative, emphasized that the new plan and funds available are heading in the right direction.
He added that providing education to refugee children is crucial for their eventual return home and overcoming the obstacles that have hindered them for a long time.
In 2018, Uganda launched the world’s first-ever refugee education response plan, which had a great impact on enrollment rates and a few other areas like school infrastructure development.
Presently, across all communities hosting refugees, a remarkable number of 474,363 learners are enrolled in various education levels, ranging from early childhood development to secondary school.
Out of this total, approximately 79.1 percent, equivalent to 375,913 learners, are refugees themselves.
Jason Hepps, the Deputy Country Representative of the UNHRC, acknowledged the positive progress made in the past five years through the initial education response plan. However, he emphasized that there is still a considerable distance to cover, as numerous challenges persist and require immediate attention.
Hepps concurred with Onek’s perspective, stating that overcoming these challenges necessitates the commitment of all stakeholders involved, including the government. He stressed the importance of adopting long-term planning strategies, which are crucial for ensuring the sustainability of recurrent costs and effectively addressing the existing infrastructure gaps.
Ms. Janet Kataha Museveni, the Education Minister, who launched the second refugee plan, said it should focus on enhancing quality learning.
“Our first ERP saw remarkable progress, with the Gross Enrolment Ratio of refugees in primary and secondary school rising substantially. As we move forward, ERP II is designed to build on these achievements and address areas that need more focus,” she said.
Janet further emphasized the importance of catering to the host communities in a special way during the implementation of refugee projects.
The Education Minister highlighted that host communities can sometimes be overshadowed by the needs of the refugees, and it is crucial to ensure that their specific needs and concerns are adequately addressed.
“A special thanks to the governments of Ireland, Japan, and Norway for aiding us in the continuity of learning during challenging times. I also commend the resilience of our host communities and their steadfast support. I believe education is a shared responsibility. Parents, let’s work together to provide a safe, nurturing environment for our children, and protect them from societal vices. Together, we can ensure equitable access to quality education for all,” she added.
