Access to Rural Non-Farm Livelihoods - Natural Resources Institute

able to train young people more effectively – currently this happens on an ad hoc basis, but it
would be better if it were formally endorsed as policy.
However, there are still numerous problems in the education sector. Among these is the
recruitment of skilled teachers – the district currently has 450 teachers in post, but needs
another 300. Although the country as a whole has a surplus of teachers, people are reluctant
to work is isolated rural areas with poor facilities and accommodation. There are also
problems with Head Teachers who do not adhere to their terms of reference, and teacher as
well as pupil absenteeism. The Inspector of Schools would like to spend more of his time
(e.g., three days per week) visiting schools to monitor and address some of these problems,
although this is difficult 64 .
Teacher training occurs at ten co-ordinating centres in the district. The district provides funds
for training through a capacity building programme, and World Vision also support capacity
building and training. In addition, the central government is currently assisting with
classroom construction through the School Facility Grant Scheme, and Concern is supporting
the upgrading of existing buildings.
World Vision focuses specifically on the education and training of orphans, many of whom
have had to drop out of school to care for sick household members and/or work to survive.
Those who wish to go back to school are supported and provided with materials. Others, who
are not interested or are too old now, are given training in basic life skills and are supported
in apprenticeship schemes with local artisans, who in turn are given training in training skills.
World Vision is also working with schools to establish training centres where older children
can lean vocational skills such as carpentry, metalwork, motor mechanics, and tailoring even
if they drop out of school, although in some cases this has also become part of the
mainstream curriculum. Schools are supported with infrastructure (classrooms) and technical
tools. There is also some training in business skills.
Vocational training is also available to “vulnerable” youths through OCBO, who provide two
year training courses in carpentry, masonry, metalwork, bicycle and motorcycle repairs, and
sewing and tailoring. To date 500 youths have graduated, and many of these have gone on to
start up their own businesses. However, others lack the capital to purchase the equipment
necessary to use their skills, or lack the necessary business skills to sustain their activities.
Thus in addition to vocational training OCBO has identified a need for improved access to
credit and training in business skills. OCBO has also assisted 500 marginalised children with
secondary school fees.
3.7 Health and social services
The Department of Health’s main programmes are in preventative care, curative services for
both in- and out-patients, and laboratory services. They also support vertical programmes
implemented by central government, such as TB and leprosy control. Until recently they also
covered water and environmental sanitation, but this has now become its own independent
department. The department has a five year Health Strategy Plan based on the Ministry of
Health’s national plan, which feeds into the DDP. Service delivery has been decentralised to
64 “We do no good by sitting around in the office. However, our plans to visit schools more frequently are
hindered by the lack of funds for petrol and the poor roads that take up our time by longer journeys.
How can we do monitoring and evaluation of education without such basic needs?”
Mr Mutaaya S. Abu Baker, Rakai, 10/10/2000
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