Over 13,000 textbooks given out to schools in Uganda refugee settlements

FCA Uganda distributed over 13,000 textbooks to refugee schools, addressing an urgent gap in the availability of education materials.

OVER 1 MILLION refugees in Uganda are under the age of 18 with over 600,000 being school age, according to UNHCR statistics. However, access to essential learning resources, such as textbooks, remains a significant challenge in many refugee settlements.

As part of FCA’s Lasting Education Achievements Responding to Needs (LEARN) project, FCA Uganda’s office distributed over 13,000 textbooks to secondary schools in several refugee settlements.  

A survey conducted by the Uganda Refugee Response Monitoring Group in January 2024 revealed that 70 per cent of schools in these settlements lack textbooks, underscoring the urgent need for books.

Jistey Mapenzi, a senior student from Bukere Secondary School in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, says, “without enough science text books in school, it’s hard to study and do research.”

The textbooks were distributed to schools in the following refugee settlements: Kyaka II Refugee Settlement – Kyegegwa District; Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement – Kamwenge District; Nakivale Refugee Settlement – Isingiro District, Kyangwali Refugee Settlement – Kikuube District, Palorinya Refugee Settlement – Obongi District; Pagirinya, Nyumanzi, Olua, Ayilo I and Maaji II Refugee Settlements in Adjumani District.

Education as a protection tool

Mr. Wycliffe Nsheka, Country Director of FCA Uganda, emphasised the importance of the initiative. In a refugee setting, FCA considers education as a protection tool and is committed to ensuring every child has a chance to access education as a fundamental right.

“Finn Church Aid’s effort directly addresses the critical shortage of educational materials, providing much-needed support to bridge the resource gap. This distribution is a crucial step towards improving secondary educational access and quality for both refugees and host communities. By supplying schools with these essential resources, we are not only enhancing their educational experience but also contributing to their long-term wellbeing and future opportunities,” he said.

Mr. Valence Tukacungurwa, the Headteacher of Bukere Secondary School, a beneficiary of the initiative, was very grateful to FCA and PRM for the support.

“This invaluable contribution will have a profound impact on our students and the wider community. They will not only enhance the learning experience of our students but also help to bridge the educational gap that many of them faced. The availability of these high-quality educational resources will be instrumental in improving the academic performance of our students. They will now have access to the necessary tools to deepen their understanding of the curriculum, which will boost their confidence and enthusiasm for learning.”

He noted that the initiative’s impact will extend beyond the classroom walls benefiting the community with improved educational outcomes. “When students are better equipped, they will contribute to the social and economic development of the region,” he added.

Students excited for new resources

Jistey Mapenzi was extremely pleased at the new books telling FCA Uganda staff, “with more science textbooks, we hope to perform better in science subjects. Some of these books even have self-study materials that will help me with my personal study and research. We are very grateful to the donors behind FCA for this support.”

Patience Kabarokole, a Senior Three student in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, added, “as a student under the new lower secondary curriculum, these textbooks are essential for helping me gain a better understanding of my subjects. Having these new textbooks is so important for us, they make it easier to understand our lessons and give us hope for a brighter future. This support encourages us to keep working hard in our studies.”

The LEARN project is funded by the United States Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and has been operational for the past five years, focusing on several key areas. These include ensuring inclusive access to quality education so that both refugee and host community children in the targeted settlements receive a high standard of education and experience improved learning outcomes; creating and maintaining safe and inclusive learning environments for all students; enhancing the quality of education by improving how it is delivered to provide the best possible experience; and prioritizing the protection and wellbeing of learners to support their overall development and success.

With continued funding from PRM, the project has benefited over 166,000 individuals, including 19,612 secondary learners, 145,215 primary learners, and 734 Accelerated Education Program (AEP) learners in primary schools. It also supports 1,492 primary teachers, 50 AEP primary teachers, and 589 secondary teachers. This extensive support system addresses educational needs and improves learning conditions across the targeted settlements.

Text: Linda Kabuzire
Images: Renah Atuhaire and Evelyn Nabasa / FCA

Find out more about the LEARN project.