Pearl Foundation Education Sponsorship Programme

About the Program

"If one wants to know about the progress and direction of a country, the quickest way is to look at how they treat their children." - John Ssenkumba Nsimbe

The Pearl Foundation Education Sponsorship Programme addresses the critical gap in Uganda's "universal free education" system. While officially free, the reality is that many children cannot attend school due to hidden costs. In just two years, we've supported 500 children whose families cannot afford school fees.

The Reality of Education in Uganda

Officially, Uganda has universal free primary education, meaning that all children of school-going age are supposed to attend primary school and secondary school without paying fees. Yet, the number of children not attending school is high, and increasing, by the day.

The number of children who start school and drop out at various levels is unacceptably high. The value and usefulness of the education that schools impart to our children is increasingly being distrusted, even for those who are able to complete the entire school system. The growing numbers of youths who complete education and cannot find gainful employment is worrying.

Key Challenges Identified

1. No True Government Schools

There are no government schools anymore. Rather, what we have are government-aided schools. The difference between what parents pay in government schools, and what they pay in private schools is becoming narrow by the day. The number of children not attending school because of school fees is increasing.

2. Dependency Syndrome

Fundamentally, our organization has realized that once parents are relieved of the burden of school fees, they relax. They become even more helpless and dependent. They stop being responsible for buying books, pens, pencils, uniforms, and even providing for lunch for their children. They actually baptize their own children "Pearl Children".

Going forward, Pearl is discovering that working on the attitude of parents, and increasing the value they attach to education is even more important than helping with paying school fees.

3. Poor Infrastructure (Sept-Oct 2025 Survey Findings)

• Inadequate classrooms - high pupil-to-desk ratios
• Poor toilet facilities and water sources
• Unhygienic food preparation areas
• Acute problems in nursery sections (Baby-Middle-Top)
• Exploitative "graduation" fees: UGX 100,000 - 200,000 for Top class to P.1 transition
• Schools operating without licenses
• No fire safety provisions
• Water-logged locations with flooding risks
• Unfenced schools allowing unregulated movement
• Optional lunch programs - many children go hungry
• Urban schools with no playgrounds (must rent from others)
• Minimal attention to children with disabilities

4. Parental Involvement Crisis

• Parents do not participate actively in children's education
• Burden of school falls mainly on mothers
• Many fathers don't even know the exact location of their children's schools
• Few fathers attend school meetings where important decisions are made
• Gender inequality in educational responsibility

5. Education System Divide

The education system is divided into education for the rich, and education for the poor. Schools have turned into business to generate money for the owners, rather than giving service to the communities. Teachers have had to resort to protesting and striking to call for attention to their problems.

Critical Questions We're Addressing

These are questions and dilemmas that PFHRDI has faced and continues to face in its sponsorship program:

• How to choose, with fairness, those who should benefit from sponsorship?
• Do you base this on academic promise?
• How do you involve schools in choosing children to be supported?
• Do you base it on order of birth, so that the youngest are given preference?
• Do you base this on the level of poverty and needs of each specific family?
• For how long do you support the sponsored children?
• Is it wiser to give priority to supporting vocational training of the young to acquire skills that can earn them some income early in life?
• What can PFHRDI do to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the schools where they sponsor children?
• Is it even possible to influence education outcomes in the rest of schools where PFHRDI is not sponsoring any child?

These are questions, not just for the foundation, but for all people, parents, teachers, the ministry of education, local government leaders, and the children themselves.

Our Response & Way Forward

Two years ago, Pearl Foundation for Human Rights and Development Initiative (PFHRDI) made the decision to stop being observers, and take some actions in the education sector. We've learned that financial support alone is not enough - we must work on:

• Parent Sensitization: Developing strategies to help parents value their children's education
• School Quality Monitoring: Advocating for better infrastructure and standards
• Holistic Support: Not just tuition, but books, materials, meals, and mentorship
• Community Ownership: Ensuring parents remain engaged and responsible
• Gender Equality: Engaging fathers equally in their children's education
• Systemic Advocacy: Working with Ministry of Education on policy improvements

Program Impact

• 500 children currently sponsored
• Schools surveyed in September-October 2025
• Partnership with communities across Uganda
• Ongoing monitoring and evaluation
• Parent sensitization programs launched

Get Involved

The need for support is ever increasing. While 500 children is progress, it's a very small drop in the ocean. We invite you to:

• Sponsor a child's education
• Support school infrastructure improvements
• Volunteer for parent sensitization programs
• Advocate for education policy reform
• Partner with us to expand this critical work

"Where did we, as a country go wrong? What do we need to do to return to the right path? What are the most important starting points to change and improve education in Uganda?"