Educational Levels and Unemployment Rates in Uganda

ABSTRACT The study sought to examine the educational levels and unemployment rates in Uganda. The study objectives were; to determine the trends of educational levels in Uganda, to determine the trends of unemployment rates in Uganda and to examine the relationship between educational levels and unemployment rates. Study findings trends of Educational levels in Uganda revealed that 67% of the respondents agreed that as education levels increase more skills are acquired and individuals have more specific knowledge to qualify them for specific jobs whereas the remaining 33% disagreed with the statement. The study concludes that the system of education in Uganda had a structure of 7 years of primary education, 6 years of secondary education (divided into 4 years of lower secondary and 2 years of upper secondary school), and 3 to 5 years of post-secondary education. The objective that of the trends of Educational levels in Uganda, it was found out that 67% of the respondents agreed that as education levels increase more skills are acquired and individuals have more specific knowledge to qualify them for specific jobs whereas the remaining 33% disagreed with the statement. On the second objective of findings on trends of unemployment rates in Uganda it was revealed that 43% of the respondents agreed that they were employed and yet the majority of the respondents were unemployed. Last objective of relationship between educational levels and unemployment rates. It was found out was that 82% of the respondents agreed that as education levels among individuals increase, the unemployment rate is lowered and the remaining 18% of the respondents did not. This also indicated that majority of the respondents were aware that when individuals increase on their levels of education, they are likely to be employed hence minimizing on the level of unemployment in the country. The study concludes that the system of education in Uganda had a structure of 7 years of primary education, 6 years of secondary education (divided into 4 years of lower secondary and 2 years of upper secondary school), and 3 to 5 years of post-secondary education, that majority of students go to universities, both public and private. The remainder are distributed among the more than 20 private universities and a smaller number of non-university institutions. The study recommends that for education institutional learning to further penetrate and reach out even to the poorest of the poor in both rural and urban areas whose income cannot favour them to afford payments in schools or higher learning institutions. The government of Uganda should consider appropriate policy reforms in regard to employment so as to minimize on the levels of unemployment.