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Improving safety for learners and teachers at school in Uganda

Context analysing

The Education for Life team has analysed the context of the problem and mapped out important bottlenecks and challenges in Uganda. The team will explore successful models, concepts and experiences to improve safety for learners and teachers at school and on their way to/from school. Best practices will be outlined, selected and validated by an expert.

Learning and teaching processes in Uganda are affected by

  • the high influx of refugees in Uganda
  • teachers who are untrained and unequipped to work with learners from different contexts and backgrounds
  • out of control teacher-student ratios

This results in compromised learning outcomes and safety of the learners. The number of South Sudanese refugees in Uganda exceeded 1 million in Mid-August, due to conflict affecting the country. The massive influx of refugees puts heavy pressure on the education system and capacities. As women and girls are more vulnerable the action is designed to meet their needs with interventions.

Why is improving safety at schools so important?

The children and youth risk missing out on any education if the education system is not supported and strengthened. Being denied the right to basic quality education will have lifelong consequences for everyone.

Schools act as a second home to learners where they learn and unlearn different behavior, cultural practices and beliefs. Some of the behavior and practices learnt can be very harmful and destructive to the learners’ lives.

A gender responsive school environment should pay attention to the specific needs of each students, providing a conducive learning environment where they interact with people who hold different cultural and religious beliefs.