Intervention 1: Primary School Competence-based Instruction

In order to increase the proportion of primary school pupils with a conducive learning and teaching environment characterised by competence-based instruction and adequate sitting and writing space, the Busoga Consortium, through the Busoga Education Initiative (BEI), will identify a total of 44 schools across the region and transform them into model primary schools. These schools shall be modelled to reflect the following:

• Construction of modern classrooms to reflect the standard pupil-classroom ratio and install the appropriate facilities for a learner-centred space.
• Provision of age-appropriate and adequate instructional materials, including modern libraries and computer laboratories, to nurture reading and the use of digital equipment at an early age.
• Inculcating a positive and inspirational school campus with a green environment, and a neat teaching and learning space.
• Promotion of continuous professional development (CPD) for teachers to enable the implementation of good classroom teaching that meets the needs of all pupils.
• Promotion of Special Needs Education (SNE) to ensure the inclusion of students with disabilities.
• Availability of a school feeding programme in these schools.
• Strengthening School Management Committees (SMCs) and re-instating Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) that are committed to deploying their expertise and available resources to meet the goal of a competence-based teaching and learning environment.
• Provision of proper sanitation, safe water and hygiene.
• Promoting Vocationalisation in schools.
• Strengthening school inspection, monitoring and support.
• Promoting staff and teacher motivation, such as the provision of houses for teachers.
  

Beyond looking to support from Government, the Consortium is keen to establish and sustain partnerships with development partners, the private sector, civil society organisations, and foundation bodies to realise this primary school development agenda. In addition, the Consortium will undertake Busoga-wide education ideological reorientation and mindset change to ensure that parents are the primary stakeholders in the delivery of education at all levels.

Intervention 2: Developing the University Sector in Busoga

We are living in a high-tech-driven global economy largely influenced by innovations from the top universities that have heavily invested in science and technology. Busoga must prepare its young people to embrace technology training and innovation to cultivate new knowledge capable of driving economic growth and sustainable development. Through this BDA, the Consortium shall lobby for:

• The transformation of some of the existing education institutions into public-funded universities with specialisation in maritime engineering, technology and innovation with a core mission of educating Ugandans to drive innovations that catalyse economic development. Busoga’s public universities shall be designed as regional training centres for entrepreneurship to build an academic environment dedicated to innovative thinking, inspiration and nurturing. These universities will move away from the mere acquisition of academic certificates to tertiary training that produces graduates with the requisite skills to drive the economy through innovations and entrepreneurship.
• The proposed delivery approach will be hinged on strong partnerships with development partners and the private sector, particularly technology- and innovation-driven industries and other research-intensive institutions. These partnerships will provide a basis for the generation of new knowledge and transfer the same into hightech enterprises to respond to the emerging opportunities in a globalised digital world. In addition, the private sector has the financial capability to provide essential funding to drive research, innovation and enterprise development. At the national level, it is expected that these universities will strengthen student enrolment in science and technology to achieve the optimal numbers required to realise the UNESCO 40 per cent minimum for economic take-off in Uganda.
  

Intervention 3: Busoga Consortium Scholarship Initiative

A merit-based scholarship scheme shall be run by the Consortium, providing financial grants to well-performing but financially deserving students at university level. Scholarships will be awarded to students interested in pursuing study disciplines that respond to the development needs of the sub-region. Those who receive the scholarships should commit to give back and create a revolving fund for the benefit of future applicants. A total of 500 scholarships tenable at a national university are planned to be awarded to eligible male and female Basoga.