The challenges of guaranteeing children's rights to education in war-torn northern Uganda: a case study of former child soldiers in Gulu district

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Date
2007-09
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Publisher
Kampala international international: College Humanities and Social Sciences
Abstract
This study set out to establish whether children's rights to education were applicable to children who are affected by conflict in war-torn northern Uganda. More specifically, the study used the case of former child soldiers in Gulu District to establish the challenges that these children face in their bid to enjoying the right to education. To ascertain the level of the enjoyment of the right to education of former child soldiers, the study investigated whether children were accessing primary school education. The study was carried out in four sub-counties of Gulu District, and targeted former child soldiers as the primary target population; whilst members of the Acholi community, government employees, NGO staff and school administrators were the secondary target population. To get an in-depth understanding of the challenges of guaranteeing children's rights to education, three aspects of schooling were critically looked into, and these are: access to primary school, attendance in class and involvement in learning activities. The study used a sample size of 200 drawn from five sub-counties of Gulu District. The study was conducted using methods that are largely qualitative. A questionnaire and an interview guide were the main research instruments that were used in data collection. Data analysis was done with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS), software that produces generative descriptive statistics and cross-tabulation, which were used to illustrate the study summary and findings. The major findings revealed that former child soldiers in Gulu District were denied their right to education. The denial of the right to education was due to the fact that a great number of former child soldiers were not attending primary school. The non-attendance to primary school of these children was prevalent even though there was awareness concerning the opportunities available to them. It was established that many socio-economic, attitude, and administrative factors were the major challenges that hindered former child soldiers from accessing, attending and getting involved in primary schooling. The researcher recommended that various stakeholders, particularly the government of Uganda, NGOs, and the entire community of conflict impacted areas should collaboratively mobilize and support former child soldiers schooling. The many challenges that former child soldiers encounter in seeking education entail the need for the development of many tailor-made support structures such as free education, psycho social support and special classes. There is great need for the government of Uganda to consult the various stakeholders and develop and implement a Disarmament, Demobilization and reintegration (DOR) programme that is conscious of the children's right to education.
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of a Master of Arts degree in human rights and development of Kampala international university (Kiu)
Keywords
Human rights and Development, Children's rights, Education, War-torn northern, Former child soldiers in Gulu district
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