The public education system is remote, underfunded and when a child leaves the system after the 6th or 7th grade, “they may not be able to write their name.” The “schools” may be held under a tree with sticks and dirt for writing materials. Many children are killed and injured each year when storms and lightning hit the trees the children have sought for shelter.
The private boarding schools are modest but safe and very effective at educating children to meet the academic and curriculum standards set by the British education system which has been in place in Uganda for many years. The schools follow a comprehensive curriculum followed by standardized testing at several points along the grade levels. Children are grateful for the opportunity for a chance to, “work hard to show how smart I am” (8 year old Martin stated). Children otherwise may be given at a young age to a household in a big city to work as a maid or houseboy in order to give the meager income back to the remaining family in the village. The girls may be given in marriage as an early teen in order for her family to receive a dowry.
$475 for elementary aged child in private, boarding school per year including supplies
$650 for secondary aged child in private, boarding school for entire year including supplies
$1950+ per year for post secondary college program
“I have worked hard in Biology, Math & Chemistry so I can help people suffering from disease.”
-19 year old Agnes, now in Pharmacy School
“Education is so helpful by eliminating the darkness of ignorance, illiteracy, hunger, unclean water, poverty, primitivity and killer diseases of many of our people. Education is the key. Thanks so much for the gift of ‘Light’”.
- Father Vincent
“Thank you for my mattress, blanket, clothes, mosquito net—you have given me happiness…you have saved me from suffering.”
- Joan
“Dear Dr. Sue and Dad Tom: …thank for you the school fees and supplies. I am now going to school. I sleep alone in my bed, with a net. I am so smart at school. I love you, love you.”
- Herbart, Age 8
“I stay in my very poor family deep down in the village…thank you for paying my school fees…I am now at school, smart, and clean, my dears please pray for me as I am going to sit for my exams and want to pass with flying colours. I want to be a nurse in my future to look after the sick people in my village my dear. I love you. God loves you.”
- Angel
“Dear Dr. Susan--yesterday was office day, and a girl named Angel N. came in crying, she is very smart and was always the first in her class, but she was sent home from school as was missing the fees and she had no hope of going back to school…she was crying so hard. She came with her final marks and it was unbelievable how smart she is.”
- Father Vincent
“Yesterday I had Mass at the secondary school where Winniefred is studying and she had changed completely within a few days. She shared with the class how the ‘Light’ had come into her life and she had hope now that she was back in school. The Head teacher said that Winnie had been sent home for school as she lacked the fees so she had sat at home for a full year. Winnie said she will never forget the day I went to their family home and told her some kind persons had paid her fees and she will even be boarding in school."
- Father Vincent
"Please Fr. Vincent, I want to study and help my family. Fr. I don’t want to miss my final exams to qualify to move to the next level.”
- Angel