This report describes the Ugandan context and the educational context within. Under-funding, rapid expansion and inadequate management have led to low and declining education outcomes for girls and boys.

DFID’s aim is to improve education for all children within DFID-supported schools, and reduce gender barriers to girls’ participation and achievement. Support from DFID can help:

• Improve the quality of education using the World Bank ‘School Effectiveness Model’
• Reduce barriers to girls’ education, building on DFID’s existing experience through UNICEF, by: securing a girl friendly environment; using community participation activities; reducing cost barriers to secondary education; enhancing teacher training; and strengthening national policy.

Options for DFID to support these areas include:

(i)         school, district and central level support to  improve the  effectiveness of  a  sample of                      disadvantaged, government-aided primary schools

(ii)        extending  the  school  development  process  backed  by  performance-related  grants  to government-aided secondary schools

(iii)      strengthening governance in government-aided secondary schools

(iv)       providing merit-based girls’ scholarships to private schools, possibly linked to a PPP for school construction and development.