A-PLUS (All Pupils Learning for Ultimate Success)

April 2022 to March 2023

In Karamoja, Uganda, VSO is implementing the All Pupils Learning for Ultimate Success in life (A-PLUS) inclusive education programme supported by UNICEF with funding from Irish Aid.

The programme is being implemented in seven districts including Napak, Nabilatuk, Abim, Moroto, Karenga, Kabong, and Amudat in the Karamoja sub-region across 68 selected schools. Our partners include UNICEF, Ministry of Education and Sports, District Local Governments, and Moroto Core PTC. Through this project, we will be able to reach learners, early grade teachers, school leaders, and the wider community.

The issue

Uganda's education sector faces many challenges, including high levels of teacher and student absenteeism, poor school management, inadequate learning materials and large class sizes. There are not enough teachers in disadvantaged districts or accommodation for teachers in hard-to-reach areas. All these factors contribute to persistently low school enrolment and poor quality education. Lack of flexible alternative education opportunities creates further challenges to accessing and completion in Karamoja, as does the low value attached to education—especially for girls—by some communities.¹

Karamoja is a sub-region of Uganda, where decades of conflict and the dispraportionate effects of climate change in the area, have contributed to some of the worst poverty indicators in the world. Of the households there, 80% are food insecure, unemployment is above the national average and the vast majority of children live below the poverty line.

The focus of the project is to build the capacity of primary one, two and three teachers, headteachers and deputy headteachers to improve classroom literacy and numeracy. Working with early-grade teachers, the project implements child centred learning techniques and pedagogical approaches to enhance children's numeracy skills.

Watch the video to find out more

Since 2012, the grant has built the capacity of 14 district officials , 272 teachers, 136 head teachers/ deputy head teachers, 13800 community members, and approximately 34,000 school pupils in 68 target schools in the districts of Abim, Karenga, Kaabong, Moroto, Napak, Nabilatuk & Amudat .

Teachers have been trained and mentored on inclusive teaching and learning approaches such as Child Centered Methodologies/Cooperative Learnings. School leaders have been empowered on their roles and responsibilities to provide effective school leadership and over 13,000 parents / guardians have been mobilised through school based engagement meetings and MDD sessions to participate and support school activities.

Footnotes

1. The Education System in Karamoja, Victoria Brown, Marion Kelly and Travor Mabugu, DFID Uganda (July 2017).