Effect of covid-19 on the provision of primary education services by non-state actors in Bugiri municipality

Abstract

This study was meant to assess the effect of COVID-19 on the provision of primary education services by private schools in Bugiri Municipality. The objectives of the study were; to assess how COVID-19 has affected private-sector actors in providing education services in primary schools in Bugiri Municipality, to establish the nature and magnitude of the impact of COVID-19 on the delivery of teaching by non-state education institutions in Bugiri Municipality, to find out the strategies adopted by private schools to cope with COVID–19 effects in providing education services, to recommend strategies to respond to epidemics like COVID–19 pandemic and its effects for better ability of private- sectors in providing education services. The study was conducted in Bugiri Municipality. The population of the area is mainly engaged in peasantry farming which is the main source of livelihood. There are several non-state actors involved in the provision of education services. The study mainly used qualitative methods of data collection which included the use of un- structured in-depth interview guides in order to gather in-depth information concerning the problem. The collected data was analyzed using content analysis where a table was used to explore respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics. The key findings are: effects of COVID-19 on private schools included decline in enrollment of learners, loss of good teachers, distortion in school development, teenage pregnancies, COVID-19 infections, loss of furniture and other school properties among others, strategies private schools adopted include; rolling out online learning, supporting of staff, vaccination, protection of the school, observing and adhering of SOPs, acquiring of loans, forming and joining of associations among others . The study recommends that parents should send their children to schools and ensure they pay the school requirements, schools should provide a conducive environment for both learners and teachers to ensure that they settle in schools, private teachers associations should unite to claim for the private teachers’ grants and pledges and the government through the Ministry and NCDC should develop a Ugandan based curriculum rather than manipulating the existing one.