Lukung, Lamwo | A new chapter of hope and second chances is unfolding in Lamwo district through the Accelerated Education Program (AEP), implemented under the Uganda Secondary Education Expansion Program (USEEP).
The program, managed by Windle International Uganda in partnership with StrongMinds Uganda, is targeting out-of-school youth aged 16 to 25 who dropped out of school more than a year ago.
The AEP Centre has been established at Lukung Senior Secondary School in Lukung Sub-county and aims to bring mainstream learners back into the formal education system. The center has so far enrolled 174 learners, out of a targeted 224 for Lamwo District.
Impressively, the gender distribution is balanced, with 50% of the learners being female. The program is inclusive, catering to both learners with special needs and those from the refugee communities residing in Lamwo.
Why the program matters
The AEP addresses a growing crisis in education: the increasing number of youths who have dropped out of school due to challenges such as teenage pregnancy, early marriages, poverty, and displacement.
Many of these young people had given up hope of continuing their education. The AEP offers a condensed two-year curriculum designed to help them catch up.
Level One covers the equivalent of Senior 1 and Senior 2, while Level Two corresponds to Senior 3 and Senior 4. After completing Level Two, learners are eligible to sit for the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, potentially advancing to A-level education or even university.
Mugisa Charles, principal education officer in charge non-formal education at Ministry of Education and Sport, says if a learner shows academic progress after completing Level One, they may be integrated directly into the formal secondary school system, beginning from Senior 3.
He added that “those who require additional support can continue to Level Two within the AEP framework before sitting their UCE.”
Strict enrollment criteria
According to the program guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education and Sports, only those who have been out of school for at least one year are eligible.
This ensures that the program targets genuinely vulnerable learners and not those who recently dropped out.
According to Mugisa, the Principal Education officer, non-formal Education at the Ministry of Education and Sport, the learner’s study alongside their peers in the formal education system to encourage social reintegration and reduce stigma.
He said teachers receive specialized training to handle the unique academic and psychosocial needs of these students.
Community support and encouragement
The Lamwo District Education Officer (DEO), Banabas Langoya, has called upon parents, guardians, and community leaders to actively support the initiative, emphasizing the importance of bringing all school-age children and youth back into the education system.
“This program is a golden opportunity for our children who thought their education journey had ended. We must not let it pass. Let us mobilize every eligible child to enroll,” said Langoya, the DEO.
Community members have also shared their gratitude. Rose Atim, a mother of three, said: “My daughter dropped out after getting pregnant. We had lost hope, but now she’s back in school and dreams of becoming a nurse.”
William Komakech, the Lamwo Resident District Commissioner, added: “This is a powerful initiative. If we use it well, we will reduce youth unemployment, crime, and early marriages.”
A regional effort
Lamwo is one of five districts currently benefiting from the Accelerated Education Program under USEEP. The program aligns with Uganda’s broader goal of achieving universal secondary education, particularly for vulnerable and marginalized populations.
As the program gains momentum, hopes are high that it will transform lives, restore dignity, and equip young Ugandans with the education they need to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the nation.
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