Kampala — Uganda has been recognised for its effort to promote transparency in the education sector compared to some African countries.

This is according to a report by the global anti-corruption watchdog Transparency International (TI). The report observes that the use of notice boards at the national level, for the wider publication of financial information in Uganda is a good practice.

The report titled Africa Education Watch: Good Governance Lessons for Primary Education, was published following surveys conducted in seven African countries implementing the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and receive capitation grants from government.

The other countries include Ghana, Madagascar, Morocco, Niger, Senegal and Sierra Leone. The study investigated the flow, disbursement and management of primary education resources, access to information relating to funding, decision- making processes, participation in School Management Committees (SMCs) and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs).

The study report cites that primary schools in Morocco, Niger and Senegal lack financial documentation for accountability. However, more primary schools in Ghana, Madagascar, Uganda and Sierra Leone have some financial data available, though in many cases, the displayed information is incomplete.

In Uganda particularly, while financial data is displayed nationally, the same data is not regularly displayed at the regional and district offices. The TI report also notes that Ugandan parents report problems like sexual harassment of children, teacher-alcohol abuse and violence more readily compared to other countries.

The survey also investigated the level of abuse of power and established that in Madagascar and Niger, parents noted that their children are made to do chores in school while those in Uganda noted sexual harassment. The report notes that UPE and abolition of school fees in primary, has increased pupil enrollment in sub-Saharan Africa since 1999.

However, the free education excludes provision of textbooks, uniforms and school materials. These costs remain a disincentive to the poor people who cannot afford them. The survey identified three common forms of corrupt practices in the surveyed countries. These include illegal collection of fees, embezzlement of school funds and abuse of power.

An average 44% of parents reported paying illegal fees in the surveyed countries and the average amount of money parents report paying is $4.16 (about sh9,000) per child for one school annually. Parents report paying fees for textbooks, private tutoring and exams.

The report established that head teachers and SMC members from the surveyed countries lack financial management training, yet it is essential for better management.

Eighty five percent of schools surveyed in the countries either had poor accounting systems or lacked any. Also, parents across all the surveyed countries do not try to access financial information about their children's schools. Some feel constrained by illiteracy, but many of them lack interest.

The financial information is not usually displayed at district offices and rarely at schools, even where public display is compulsory. Overall, 64% of schools in all the countries did not display any budgetary information at all, with worrying peaks of 80% and 85% in Ghana and Senegal respectively.

It points out that in Uganda, Ghana and Madagascar, planning in the schools is frustrated by delays in payments and schools are never sure how much will be received.In a recent interview, Dr. Kamanda Bataringaya, the minister for primary education complained about the long procurement procedures that have hindered the construction of schools, teachers' houses and laboratories.

Kamanda said procurement processes usually take between three months to a year, which results into projects starting when financial years are ending.

Recommendations

Strengthening school inspection to also cover financial management in the schools, besides teachers' attendance.

Clarification on the roles and responsibilities of PTAs and SMCs. In most cases, parents have limited understanding of how SMCs work.

Parents need to be informed of procedures to report power abuse, financial mismanagement or misuse of funds by the PTAs, SMCs or head teachers.

Consult pupils regularly so that their views on priorities for school improvement are addressed.