COVID-19 Impacts Education in Uganda- Two Students and a Teacher
“My learners are deeply demoralized. Many of them are losing hope,” stated Jennifer Cynthia Akongo, a teacher from Nwoya district in Uganda. This teacher is only one of the many who have been working hard to not interrupt their students’ educational path. The continuous attention they give their learners can be seen by their daily walk around the settlement to visit each of the students’ houses and give the offer help and guidance with their studies no matter in each subject. This is done while continuously conforming to the COVID-19 safety guidelines. “In the beginning, we distributed home-study materials to all the students,” Jennifer added. “Then we started gathering them outside in small groups of four or five students, to support them in their self-study once a week as they work in the garden and do home chores. We are doing our best amidst their schedules.” However, this is not nearly enough to reach all the children who need access to distance learning.
A study conducted by Save the Children in 2020 deduced that nearly ten million children in fifty-nine of the world’s poorest countries, including Uganda, may never resume their traditional educational path because of the massive school closures that the COVID-19 pandemic has ensued worldwide. Even though some educational institutions have been opening again in Uganda, more than thirteen million children remain out of school since the end of March last year, including 600,000 refugee children according to Save the Children. Many of these children associate school as a sanctuary from violence and prosper in their studies to get the tools to permanently change their current condition. It is a prosperous and safe place that makes the whole difference between one type of life and the next.
Seventeen-year-old Okello is from Sudan. Her and her family escaped the war in their home country and received political asylum in Uganda. They now live in a refugee settlement. Even though Okello is young, with so much trauma behind her, her studies are a huge priority for her as they symbolize a way to build a better future. Joining the school system in Uganda was a gasp of relief for Okello. Then she stated, “COVID-19 has forced me to drop out of school. I’m pregnant now. And I’m really sad,” She added, “I really want to continue with my education. It will help me forget about the challenges in my past and continue with a normal life. My dream is to become a teacher one day, so I can tell future generations to stay in school and finish their education. It is so important.”
Unfortunately, Okello’s story is far from being one of few. Another fifteen-year-old student also from Sudan shares a similar past and concern for the future. Jonathan has been concerned about the prolonged school closures for his sake and his peers’. He stated that since schools have closed down in March of 2020 him and his peers are changing their plans for the future because of the lack of educational access. “I’m now worrying about some of our friends who are girls because they are now getting pregnant due to the school closures. Some are dropping out of school because they have to get married.” Many of his male friends have been forced to turn to whatever work is available for their wellbeing and that of their families. He added, “Some of the boys are going to work for other people, on their farms or in the market. Some of them have been doing heavy work and there is no food to eat so at the end of the month they find they are becoming very thin and have health problems.”
In this article, the CEO of Save the Children, Inger Ashing stated that the prolonged closure of schools are causing children from poverty-stricken families to engage in manual labor or marry to survive. As a consequence of this, those children’s chances of returning to school when they reopen are very slim. She called out to donors and national governments, “Last year pushed us into a healthcare and economic crisis, and into the biggest education emergency we’ve ever seen. It is critical that international donors and national governments now prioritize the education of millions of children across the globe.”
Ingrid ended the interview with a striking statement that leaves one thinking, “Without education, we would not have the success of the COVID-19 vaccines and the prospect of a safer world. Children who are currently out of school are our future doctors, scientists, truck drivers, and plumbers.” She called out, “If 2020 was the year of finding the vaccine, 2021 needs to be the year of investing in children’s future.”
To immediately make a difference for these children, donate any electronic device where they can stream their online classes and stay connected to their education safely. Follow these links for more information on how to donate and chose which method is best for you to get started:
https://worldcomputerexchange.org
How many electronic devices do you have in your home? How many have you had since you began your educational journey? For each electronic device donated, six children will be able to get through four years of their educational journey. Your donation could nurture the minds of Uganda’s future doctors, researchers, engineers, scientists, politicians, educators, and much more. Our initiative combined with your support is going to impact not only these children’s livelihood, but the future of this country.
