Parents Reactions Towards Universal Primary Education in Selected Primary Schools, Kyegonza Sub-County Mpigi District

ABSTRACT ~ LIBRARY Cf DATi—”~ The study was basically to find out the reaction of parent ~PE policy in five selected schools in Kyegonza sub~county. The researcher used a cross sectional survey design with both qualitative and quantitative aspects. The stakeholder of UPE policy was consulted. For example parents, head teachers, local leaders, teachers. Stratified random sampling was used to select the Parents, solven’s equation to determine the sample size of teachers and purposive sampling to select the sample size of opinion leaders. The quantitative data was analyzed descriptively in form of frequency distribution tables, graphs and percentages by summarizing the variables on the reactions of parents towards Universal Primary Educational policy The study was conducted in Mpigi district Kyegonza Sub County. The researcher used random sampling to select five schools from the ten Government aided schools. The study employed interviews, questionnaires and focus group discussion to collect data from respondents. The total sample size of parents constituted 143; 35 teachers; 5 head teachers and 4 opinion leaders. The benefit brought about by the UPE policy where parents indicated a positive attitude were that, the introduction of UPE policy helped some children whose parents or guardians had failed to raise tuition fees also to attain primary education, reduced the school fees burden that was xiii shouldered by parents, and that the UPE policy attracted more children to attend school. The negative reactions of parents towards UPE were brought about by challenges which may lead to reduced academic standards in primary schools (67%), over crowding in classes revealed (77.7%) leading to shortage of infrastructure and visual aids for learning (6.2.3%). Secondly, 76.5% of the parents supported the introduction of UPE that it was highly required and introduced at the right time. The study recommended that parents should be sensitized about their responsibilities and obligations under the UPE programme. More emphasis should be put on renovation of existing infrastructure and construction of classes to accommodate the increasing number of pupils. And all stakeholders in education, such as parents, teachers, churches, local councils, elders, community leaders, NGO’s and the entire community should be involved at all levels of planning implementation and evaluation of the UPE programme.