Constraints to educational opportunities of orphans: a community-based study from northern Uganda

Abstract

The objective of this article is to assess constraints on educational opportunities of orphans cared for within the extended family system in Lira district, northern Uganda. The data were collected through: review of school census records; ethnographic fieldwork; in-depth interviews with 21 community leaders, 45 heads of households caring for orphans and 35 orphans. Focus group discussions were held with men and women caring for orphans, community leaders and orphans. A household survey was conducted in 402 households caring for orphans. We found that very poor widows living on less than half a dollar per day head 48% of the households caring for orphans. The elderly heads of households were 3 times more likely to have all the children in their household in schools than the younger ones. Furthermore, the widowed and single heads of households were more likely to have all orphans in school than the married, and households that received external support offered better educational opportunities. Poverty, as indicated by lack of food while at school and heavy involvement of orphans in domestic labour, were identified as major constraints on orphans' schooling. There is an urgent need to support orphans' education in northern Uganda beyond the current Universal Primary Education efforts. The most vulnerable households need to be targeted, and the communities need to be sensitized to child labour, school meals and sex abuse.

Inter-generational Linkages of AIDS: Vulnerability of Orphaned Children for HIV Infection

“…Qualitative evidence suggests that poor children or orphaned children may engage in a relationship with an older partner (often called a 'sugar daddy' or 'sugar mummy') to fund school or other expenses (Muula et al 2003;Oleke et al 2007). Such a pattern of gift-giving and financial support can encourage lower condom use (Jewkes et al 2001).…”

Older adult caregivers to people with HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review of literature and policy implications for change

“…Abject poverty creates a new lifestyle of hardships to which many of the children may not have been exposed hitherto. The poverty and apathy are exacerbated by subsequent loss of property left behind by their parents because most relatives and caregivers divide it among themselves exploiting the children because of their ignorance, and vulnerability which compounds their misery (WHO 2002, Zimmer and Dayton 2005, Wiegers et al 2006, Landry et al 2007, Oleke et al 2007, Oduaran 2008. Some of the property is sold in an effort to raise some income for the household needs including caring for the sick family members.…”

“…Hardships faced by the orphans in most SSA countries are numerous and in magnitudes never imagined a few decades ago (WHO 2002, Nyambedha et al 2003, Zimmer and Dayton 2005, Wiegers et al 2006, Landry et al 2007, Oleke et al 2007, Clacherty 2008. Broadly, they are categorized as psychosocial, socioeconomic, and emotional.…”

“…The more widely accepted definition of an orphan in Africa is a child below the age of 18 who has lost one or both parents (Oleke et al 2007, UNAIDS 2007. Orphans are not only substantial in number but more importantly, they need care which poses an overwhelming challenge for the older adult caregivers.…”

Teachers’ Perceptions and Expectations of Community and Government Involvement in Supporting Orphaned Learners

“…Despite community efforts to respond to the needs of orphans and other vulnerable children, support structures are overburdened with the rapidly growing number of orphans and diminishing resources as a result of the effects of HIV/ AIDS (UNICEF 2015). In earlier studies, Oleke et al (2007) and Thurman et al (2008) found that as a result of poverty many caregivers were unable to provide the orphans in their care with food, medical care, clothing and education, which were needed. Some caregivers were unable to provide for their own children and that had a negative impact on their support of orphans in the community (Thurman et al 2008).…”