Child Welfare Organisations and Promotion of Disadvantaged Children’s Education in Uganda: A Case of Compassion International-aided Projects In Rukungiri District

ABSTRACT Every child is entitied to education. Its for this reason that there are a number & Child Welfare Organisations operating in Uganda whose vision is to promote education for the disadvantaged children. Therefore, this study focused on Child Welfare Organisations and promotion & disadvantaged children’s education in Rukungiri District, using Compassion International-Aided Projects as a case study. Specifically, the study aimed at establishing the various categories of disadvantaged children helped by Compassion International-Aided Projects; Identifying the various ways through which Compassion International- Aided Projects promote education for the disadvantaged chiidren; assessing the challenges encountered by Compassion International-Aided Projects in promoting education for the disadvantaged children; and assessing the measures put in place by Compassion International- Aided Projects to resolve chailenges they face in promoting education for the disadvantaged children. A case study design was used, with a sample of 84 respondents of which 24 were Project staff and 60 parents who were selected using purposive and snow-bail sampling designs, respectiv4 The methods used to collect data were Formal Interview and questionnaire methods. In relation to objectives, the study revealed as follows: flrst, the different categories of disadvantaged children helped by Compassion International-Aided Projects in Rukungirl District are; orphans, the needy and xv victims of HIV/AIDS. Second, these children are provided with scholastic materials, project uniforms, school fees, medical care and household materials. Third, Compassion International-Aided Projects in Rukungiri District face a number of challenges, among which are; high rates of school drop outs, unsupportive caretakers, inadequate funds, poor academic performance and bad behaviours from children. Lastly, Compassion International-Aided Projects has put in place some measures to overcome the foregoing challenges which include; guiding and counseling children, seeking more donations, proper screening of children, continuous follow ups and monitoring, and training peer educators. For Compassion International-Aided Projects to strengthen their ability to overcome challenges they face in promoting disadvantaged children’s education, the researcher recommends that; the government should provide special programs that will help meet the livelihood needs of disadvantaged children; parents and caretakers should be empowered with skills to support their children; Non Governmental Organizations should be encouraged to partner up with Child Welfare Organizations in helping the disadvantaged children, children should be sensitized about their rights and local leaders should take the responsibility to identify disadvantaged children in their respective areas; and punish whoever is involved in mistreatment of these children.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I~ecIaratIon . ••..................

Approval ~iii

Ajproval Sheet.

Dechcatlon

Acknowledgements~vi

‘Fable of Contents~ vU

List of ‘rabies .cli

1_Ist of Figures idil

Listof

AcronyiTis

a~bstract.

CHAPTER ONE......................~.................................................i

1.1 Badcground to the study

1.2 Statemnerit of the Problem •••••e.................10

1.3 Purpose of the Study .~12

1.4. ObjectIves of the study ......................12

1.5 l~esearch questions .. .....................13

1.6 Scope of the studthf ..~13

1.6.1 (eographlcal scope~ •.flflfl. 13

.l.6.2 Cbfte’7t.5tt7/9~14

.1.6:3

1.7 SignifIcance of the Stucty • ••......................

DefinI ion of keic terms ••• •••••.... •n..n...16

CHAPTER

REVIEW OF

FIWO

REI.ATED

~

LITERATIJP.E ...............................................................17

vu

2.0~17

2.1 Conceptual Framework 17

2.2. Categories of disadvantaged children assisted by Child Welfare Organizations 19

2.2.1 Introduction

2.2.2 Disabled children in Uganda 20

2.2.3 Orphans and abandoned children 21

2.2.4 Orphans’ and vulnerable children’s need for education 23

2.2.5 Access of orphans and vulnerable children to education 23

2.2.6 Street children and education 27

2.2.7 Child labourers 29

2.3 Contributions made by Child Welfare Organizations towards promoting

disadvantaged children’s education 34

2.4. Challenges faced by Child Welfare Agencies 35

2.4.1 Introduction 35

2.4.2 Changing role, expanded responsibility 36

2.4.3 Increased demands straining agency capacity 37

2.4.4 Increase in challenging populations 37

2.4.5 Older children 38

2.4.6 Barriers to accessing services 38

2.4.7 Inflexibility of federal funding 38

2.4.8 Budget and staffing pressure 39

2.4.9 Budget and staffing pressure 40

2.5 Measures put in place to overcome some of the challenges faced by Child Welfare

Agencies 41

2.5.1 Funding 41

2.5.2 Critical Panel reports about agency performance 42

2.5.3 Litigation against the System 43

2.5.4 Innovations and changing priorities and practices 43

2.5.5 Prioritizing Families for Service Delivery 44

2.5.6 Increased screening and more selective investigation strategies 44

viii

2.5.7 More restrictive service delivery~ 44

2.5.8 Changes in Service Provision and Coordination~44

2.5.9 Improving service delivery 45

2.5.10 Accountability 47

2.6 Conclusions 48

CFiAP~fER ~~~1REE

~4 ET~IiODOLOGY

3.1 Introduction 49

3.2 Research Design 49

3.3 Study Population 50

3.4.1 Sample size, technique and procedure 50

3.4.2 Sample selection technique 50

3.4.3 Sampling Procedures 51

3.5 Validity and Reliability of research instruments 51

3.6 Sources of data 52

3.6 Methods of data collection 53

3.7 Data Processing and Analysis 54

3.8 Study limitation 54

3.9 Ethical considerations

CHAP~rE~~.

4.0 ANALYSIS, PRESENTATION AND INTERPRETATION OF FINDINGS .........56

4.1 Personal characteristics of respondents 56

4.1.1 Gender 56

4.1.2 Age of Respondents 57

4.1.3 Marital Status 59

4.1.4 Education levels 60

4.1.5 Occupations of the respondents 61

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4.2 Categories of Disadvantaged Children aided by Compassion International-Aided

Projects 62

4.3 Various ways through which disadvantaged children’s education is promoted by

Compassion International Aided Projects 63

4.3.1 Provision of scholastic materials 64

4.3.2 Project Uniforms 64

4.3.3 School Fees 65

4.3.4 Medical Care 65

4.3.5 Household materials 65

4.4 What Compassion International Aided Projects are not providing to disadvantaged

children 66

4.4.1 Transport to schools 66

4.4.2 Full amount of school fees 67

4.4.3 Scholastic materials 67

4.4.4 School Uniforms 67

4.4.5 Meals 68

4.5.1 High rates of school drop outs 69

4.5.2 Unsupportive Care takers 69

4.5.3 Inadequate funds 70

4.5.4 Poor performance of children 71

4.5.5 Bad behaviors from children 71

4.6 Measures put in place by Compassion International-Aided Projects to overcome the

foregoing challenges 71

4.6.1 Guiding and Counseling children 72

4.6.2 Sensitization of parents/guardians 73

4.6.3 Seeking for more donations 73

4.6.4 Proper screening of beneficiaries 73

4.6.5 Continuous follow-ups and monitoring of children 74

4.6.6 Training peer educators 74

x

CHAPTER

5.0 SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDAflONS..........,........,..•~75

5.1 SUrnnlary of findings • •••••••••••.••••••••••.75

5.2 Conclusions ..

5.4 Suggested areas for further research

References 81

Appendices....... . ... . . . . . . ... ..... . . . . . . .... . . . . . . ........ . . .... . . . . . . ...92