The Ministry of Education and Sports has announced plans to open up Early Childhood Development (ECD) and learning centers for pre-primary learners.

The plan was announced by the State Minister, of Higher Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo, who was the chief guest during the 25th-anniversary celebrations for the Universal Primary Education (UPE) at the Kololo Independence Grounds.  

Muyingo noted that with early childhood learning, it is expected that the quality of learning in UPE schools will improve significantly.

Pupils from different primary schools and education sector stakeholders gathered at the Kololo Independence grounds to mark 25 years since the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program was launched in 1997.  

The education sector stakeholders present at the commemoration included officials from the ministry of education and civil society organizations engaged in the sector. The Country Director of Plan International Uganda, called for emphasis to be put on early childhood education to improve learning outcomes in primary schools.

The State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo pledged the government’s commitment to improving the UPE program. He added that the ministry is now formulating policies that will see the transformation of early childhood learning

Muyingo appreciated the need to have a strong foundation for all learners

Some critics have questioned the implementation of the UPE program, saying that it was poorly funded and therefore produced sub-standard pupils. Muyingo admits there have been challenges but added that these are being tackled, with emphasis on grooming teachers

Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, who is now a Special Envoy in the Office of the President, represented President Yoweri at the celebrations. In his message, read by Dr. Rugunda, the President challenged teachers to ensure that the learners get the right skills since it is key in the employment sector

The free universal primary education scheme has seen learners in primary schools grow from 2.5 million at the inception of UPE in 1997 to the current eight million pupils.

Ramson