Abstract

This chapter highlights the background of the study, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, objectives of the study, research questions, hypothesis, scope of the study, significance of the study. Also pointed out are the limitations and the delimitations of the study. 1.1 BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY In 1996 while launching his manifesto, president of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni committed himself and declared to introduce Universal Primary Education (UPE) to four children per family priorities being given to children with disabilities and girls. Soon after the victory of Y oweri Kaguta Museveni as president of Republic of Uganda,Mayanja Nkangi Minster of finance, Economic development and planning in his budget reading confirmed that UPE will be introduced in 1996/1997 financial year (John Kakande the new vision June 1996) reported. UPE is a guideline policy for education which came up as the result of world conference of education for ALL that was held in Thailand. This is line with former lecturer at the University of Daresalam, who is one of the pragmatic leaders in the transformation and modernization of society through elimination of literacy by providing education for ALL irrespective of ones disability or any other categorization. Although UPE appeared in Museveni's manifesto, it was already studied and documented in the Uganda education review Commission report and the same report which is referred to as Kajubi's report was presented to the government of Uganda and it came up with a working document !mown as The government white paper on education 1992. As very many commissions have been put in place to study the education systems of Uganda a lot of reforms have been observed since the time of independence to date. In the previous report known as the Kajubi's report, recommended for universalisation of education and it was introduced with a lot of 1 enthusiasm, joy as well as blessing in disguise. While the Introduction of UPE seen as a blessing, on the other hand, it also had related problems like drastic change in enrolment in UPE schools from 2.5 million pupils by 1996 to 6million in 1997. It is because of this reason that the researcher needed to cany out a study focusing his attention on the following areas; The introduction of UPE meant that more classrooms were to be built to accommodate the tippled enrolment in primary schools.