Maxwell's School Fees

It's back-to-school this week for Ugandan students, ending their 3-month break. But what about the wanna-be students? The words I've heard everywhere recently are "no money for school fees." The sad fact is that despite Uganda's free primary education policy many bright and eager young people cannot attend because their family lacks the ability to pay miscellaneous fees levied by the individual schools -- not to mention the cost of the uniforms required by schools, and the books. Moreover the 'free' schooling is provided for no more than four children per family. In reality, most Ugandan families are much larger. One statistician reports 10 children per household; another says nine. Most situations I've seen up close include not only the parents' offspring but various nieces, nephews, and younger brothers and sisters -- either because they are orphaned or needing to live in proximity to a school.

Maxwell is an articulate, soft-spoken young man I have spoken with twice in recent days. He is clearly an outstanding student. He has completed the first four years of secondary school and his exam score qualified him for "A" level - advanced -- but neither he nor his grandmother who has raised him since infancy, has the US $90 (equivalent) fee. (Note that this is a very low fee; most good boarding schools charge double or triple that amount.) The fee is for one term and it's on a trimester system. If it was for the whole year, I would simply pay it for him, even with misgivings. (I had vowed to say 'no' to all requests for money because an American in Africa is asked so often and it's so hard to know which are legitimate.)

I have been running into Maxwell at St. Jude's orphanage. I was there hugging babies, playing games with the older kids or teaching them English, and/or helping to exercise some of the physically disabled residents; he was there each time hoping for work. St. Jude's is paying young men to make bricks, but they only need so many bricks and they have a number of boys competing for the few jobs. Maxwell wasn't chosen this time although Jackie, the social worker, gave him an endorsement of "hard worker" and "nice boy."

Maxwell is at a crossroads -- he's eager to get more education, but he also has little hope of being able to continue. All I did was give him suggestions -- all impractical as it turned out -- that he seek work as a private tutor or as a teachers' helper at the orphanage. They lack funds; he lacks adequate credentials. All I could do was encourage him to keep his goal vividly in sight and refuse to give up. Will he be able to keep the faith?

By the way, the school attendance and drop out rates are less favorable for girls as might be expected. Education is considered less important for girls who will becomes wives and mothers, according to tradition. In many cases the young girls leave school because of pregnancy. Of boys and girls completing Primary 7 level, only one fourth continue with Secondary.

Uganda needs educated young people more than it needs the barrage of hand-outs from U.S. and European aid organizations. But that's just what I think. Today.

POST SCRIPT: 18 Feb. Maxwell phoned me to share his good news -- he had found a sponsor and was starting classes the next day. He's covered, at least for this term, and I can stop feeling guilty for not having sponsored him, myself!