The achievement of Foundation Hans Lindner for St. Joseph’s Aid Society in promoting education: A case study of Kiboga District-Uganda

Abstract

The study set out to establish Foundation Hans Lindner for St. Joseph’s Aid Society’s achievement in Education in Kiboga District-Uganda. It was a case study, based on the qualitative and quantitative research approach. The sample for the study entailed 130 participants, that is, 9 Directors, 80 Direct Beneficiaries (students), 9 District Officials, 11 Community Leaders, 8 Elders/Opinion Leaders, 12 Religious Leaders, plus the Education Secretary, Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese. These generated data for the study through five instruments, these included: interview schedules for Directors and the Educational Secretary, Kiyinda – Mityana Diocese; questionnaires for Direct beneficiaries, District officials, Community leaders, Religious leaders; focused group discussion for direct beneficiaries. The collected data was qualitatively and quantitatively presented, and analysed in frequencies and percentages, then meaningfully placed in categories for interpretation. The study was guided by two research questions: • What is the achievement of Foundation Hans Lindner for St. Joseph’s Aid Society in the promotion of Education in Uganda? • What challenges does Foundation Hans Lindner for St. Joseph Aid Society face in promoting Education in Uganda? The data collected revealed that the foundation has achieved in its role of promoting education in Uganda, especially in Kiboga district. This is because, many of those it has sponsored have now graduated in different disciplines, and this has led to reduction in the literacy rate in the country and an increase in the number of qualified personnel, thus , an increase in the human resource, a good number of its beneficiaries are now employed, that is both by government and private institutions, orphans and children from poor families who would not have been able to taste a dose of education have been supported, government has been assisted in its role of promoting Universal Education. However, the Foundation faces some challenges in trying to promote education in Uganda. These are; shortage of funds, which are greatly needed to facilitate the Foundation’s recurrent expenditure, low motivation of teachers, government obligations (taxes), poor management and administration of Foundation activities. It was concluded that achievements summarise all the benefits the Foundation has met. However, that challenges presented have always hindered the Foundation’s proper delivery of its educational services to the underprivileged in Kiboga District and the country at large. Hence, more productive partnerships between government and NGOs are clearly called for, such that, promoting education of the underprivileged greatly contributes to the future well being of the nationals in the economy, as well as it development. It was therefore recommended that, government should exempt NGO’S from taxes especially during importation of educational materials, set up an NGO Advisory Board on educational policies that would give NGOs a much greater role in education decision making, Have a more consultative approach at the community level to tackle the implementation problems, strictly monitor and scrutinize the performance of various NGOs involved in promoting education. Given all that efforts, expectations are high that, the Foundation will be able to promote education in the country with ease.