Mechanisms of Resource Mobilization for Support of Universal Free Primary Education by Women of Mbale District, Uganda

Abstract

Education is a process by which society perpetually recreates the conditions of its very existence (Tomasevsky 2004;
Phillips 1975). By this very process, the gap between generations is bridged as old and new values are passed on to the young
by the process of teaching/learning. In formal education, there are social aims and objectives that constitute guidelines toward
this progressive growth which develops an individual’s capacity and basic means for preservation of a society. The quality of
learning is influenced by a number of factors including school attendance, distance walked to school, feeding, socio-economic
status of the family, attitudes of parents towards education, peer influence, the school learning environment, quality of teachers
and many other factors. Uganda Introduced universal free education in 1997 as a policy that grants every citizen opportunities to
access all forms literacy. The purpose of this study was to assess the achievements, constraints and future prospects of
women’s continued support for their children’s education among the urban and rural poor in Mbale district. Focus group
discussions for parents, face to face interviews for pupils, teachers, district education officers and political leaders’ were also
conducted. This research established the mechanisms such as participating in formal and informal markets, casual work,
borrowing from microfinance banks and many others are used by parents to mobilize resources. The study recommends
provision of adult education to all illiterate women in the poor communities of Mbale district. School administrators and teachers
should organize meetings regularly with parents to share with them goals of the school. School administrators should listen to
their pupils in order to understand them and their needs.