Restructuring of Ministry of Education and Sports

Abstract

1.1 Background Government has continued to streamline and rationalise structures, functions and staff establishments of its institutions to enable them respond to changes in legislation, policy and operational strategies as a measure of enhancing service delivery. The last comprehensive restructuring of Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES) was conducted between 1998 and 2000 which was geared towards responding to the Constitution, Local Governments Act 1997, the Presidential Elections Manifesto 1996 and the implementation of Re Oriented Management. Since then it has become inevitable to revisit the structure of MOE enable it meet the new challenges taking into account: the Education Sector Strategic Plan 200+ - 2015, based on the Government's White Paper which spells out the long-term and medium term goals and plans of the Sector. S While a number of strategies, plans and programmes have been reviewed in the Government White Paper on Education, the values and purposes of Uganda's education system as articulated have remained supreme. The aims are to promote citizenship, moral, ethical and spiritual values; promote scientific, technical and cultural knowledge, skills, and attitudes; eradicate illiteracy, and equip individuals with basic skills and knowledge with the ability to contribute to the building of an integrated, self sustaining and independent National economy. Uganda's International Commitments for the Education Sector which include the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Education for All (EFA) goals among others. These entail provision of free, compulsory and qualitative primary education that is equitably accessed by all children, elimination of gender disparities, and achievement of measurable learning outcomes especially in literacy, numeracy and essential life skills. The above imply that the Education Sector has to be re-organised in such a manner that enables it to effectively respond and contribute to the achievement of the aims and objectives of the Education White Paper and the strategies expressed there in. Uganda's International Commitments for the Education Sector, the Poverty Eradication Action Plan (PEAP) pillars of "increased ability of the poor to raise their incomes" and "enhanced quality of life of the poor". These Pillars are major drivers of the Education Sector Programmes which form part of the major commitments and priorities of the Presidential Manifesto, 2006; and have culminated into such programmes as Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Post Primary Education and Training (UPPET).