Empowering School Children From the Urban Poor in Uganda

Abstract

The African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), in collaboration with state and non-state education actors, launched the urban education project in 2018. This transformative initiative led to the creation of the Uganda Urban Education Group (UEG), advocating for quality education for children in urban informal settlements. Stakeholders identified a pressing gap in evidence regarding how and where children in these areas access education. It was found that many children in Uganda's urban informal settlements attend private schools due to their proximity (among other reasons) and space, as government schools are overcrowded. Moreover, children from these settlements are disproportionately affected by educational disruptions like COVID-19, highlighting the urgent need for immediate government measures to support these children in such situations.