How Ugandan rural school authorities interpret and adapt government policy to recruit and retain teachers

Abstract

<p>In 2007, Uganda began a nationwide Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme with a stated commitment to 'free education'; however, it also permitted schools to receive voluntary contributions from parents in 'any urgent matter'. In doing so, schools were prohibited from denying students access to education for parent's failure to make any contribution.<p></p> This presentation shows whereas the Government provided a legitimate route for schools to adapt the policy, it simultaneously continued to underfund schools and did not appoint enough teachers for USE schools. Accordingly, schools began to levy fees from parents to cover school needs unfulfilled by Government funding. This allowed for policy interpretation at the local level to circumvent or compensate for central government level funding shortfalls.</p>