In a new important UN resolution adopted today, States have reaffirmed the urgency to address the negative impacts of the commercialisation of education, which could undermine human rights.
Source: Global Initiative on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (GIESCR)
21 March 2017, Geneva/Kampala/New York: The Ugandan government has agreed to implement a range of social and economic rights reforms recommended by the United Nations Human Rights Council following its recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Uganda.
A Ugandan non-government organization (NGO) has petitioned Parliament over the increased tuition in government schools. The Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) is seeking intervention in the regulation of fees being asked for by government-aided schools across the country.
Link: https://www.independent.co.ug/ngo-petitions-uganda-parliament-increased-tuition/
Source: The Independent
PARLIAMENT. The Speaker of Parliament, Ms Rebecca Kadaga, has pledged to stop the haphazard increase and high charges of tuition and non-tuition fees by Government-aided schools, which she says is frustrating children’s talents.
Source: Daily Monitor
The Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) submitted comments to the Draft General Comment on State Obligations under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) in the context of business activities.
Please see link: Written submissions 2017
This year, the Sustainable Development Goals were launched with a commitment to: “Leave no one behind.” While the country has made commendable progress in realizing human rights, we cannot ignore the fact that the country is failing to safeguard the rights of the poor and vulnerable, resulting in deepening inequality. 2 in 3 Ugandans remain poor or vulnerable to falling back into poverty, living on less than 2 USD per day.
https://www.devex.com/news/ opinion-the-challenge-of- public-versus-private-schools- in-uganda-89231
https://www.thenation.com/article/profit-driven-internet-schools-fail-ugandas-children/
http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/25/africa/uganda-schools-zuckerberg-gates/index.html
The 15 organisations endorsing this statement take note of the decision taken by the High Court of Uganda sitting in Kampala on Friday 4th November which confirms that the process followed by the Ugandan Government to decide to close schools run by Bridge International Academies (BIA) was fair and legal.