Factors influencing education provision for refugee children in zone III Bidibidi refugee settlement primary schools-Yumbe district

Abstract

This study was carried out in Zone III Bidibidi refugee settlement in Kululu sub-county, Yumbe district with the purpose of exploring factors influencing education provision for refugee children. The objectives of the study were to examine; assess how language of instruction influences education provision for refugee children in Zone III Bidibidi refugee settlement, how instructional materials influence education provision for refugee children an investigate how funding influences education provision for refugee children. A case study design was used in which a representative samples of 21 participants across the population of 90 which consisted of teachers, school management committee (SMC) chairpersons, Parents Teachers’ Association (PTA) chairpersons, students’ representatives (prefects) and NGO focal person for education which were selected purposively. Data was collected using interview guides and analyzed using thematic analysis. The study findings revealed that using English language as a language of instruction was a major factor that influences education provision for refugee children. It also found out that limited instructional materials affected education provision for refugee children in Zone III Bidibidi refugee settlement. These supports however are in adequate especially the instructional materials provision to the refugee children. More so, education provision for refugee children is affected by limited funding in Zone III Bidibidi refugee settlement schools. This greatly affects education provision to refugee children. The study concluded that; English language as a language of instruction, instructional materials and funding were a major factor that influences education provision for refugee children in Zone III Bidibidi refugee settlement. The study recommends that the Government of Uganda and other development partners (NGOs) should ensure that the policy guidelines put in place as a strategy in implementing provision of education provision to refugee children need to be effectively implemented in all schools in the refugee settlement, the Government and other development partners should procure and provide adequate scholastic materials to facilitate teaching and learning in primary schools in the refugee settlement.