The Yearly Educational Support Program
ECHOES Announces the Yearly Educational Support Program – The YES! Program
Although the governments of Africa are committed to providing no-fee Universal Primary Education (UPE) in response to the United Nations mandate, the practicality of doing so is proving impossible. As of 2011, Uganda is the most youthful country on the planet, with a median age of 15, and the nation has the world’s second highest fertility rate. Sadly however, of the world’s 194 nations, Uganda ranks 123 in educational funding and 135 in literacy. With scant resources at its disposal, the country is unprepared to meet the needs of the millions of children who have flooded its public education system. The implementation of UPE in Uganda usually means 100 children per classroom. Teachers are not only over-burdened but also in short supply. Fully 17% of public school teachers lack any training as educators. In reality, many Ugandan public schools are failing. For instance, nationwide, the average math score on the primary completion exam is less than 30%. Half of all Ugandan public school students withdraw from school before grade 5.
For families who are determined to give their children a quality education it is necessary to locate a private school and pay for the opportunity. Fees may not be high by Western standards, but how do you pay to educate an average family with six children on the average annual wage of $300? Who will educate the children who have lost their parents to AIDS, other diseases and hunger? In November 2011, ECHOES introduced The YES! Program to help address this critical need for basic education.
The YES! Program builds upon the demonstrated academic success of Trinity Children’s Centre in Kabowa, Uganda and Centenary High School in Nyendo, Uganda. YES! donors are paired with a deserving primary school student from Trinity or a high school student from Centenary and provided complete educational support for one academic year. For just a few dollars a day, YES! donors give their student the one thing that can never be taken away from them, their education. Donors receive letters, photos and progress reports from their student and can readily appreciate the immediate impact that saying YES! has upon the life of a child.
A few facts demonstrate the success of the private education program available at Trinity Children’s Centre and Centenary High School:
- 50,000 + = Number of pre and primary school students educated at Trinity Children’s Centre in Kabowa, Uganda since 1986.
- 5,700 = Number of secondary students educated at Centenary High School in Nyendo, Uganda since 1998.
- 1,200 = Pre-school and primary students currently enrolled at ECHOES supported Trinity Children’s Centre
- 800 = Secondary students currently enrolled at ECHOES supported Centenary High School
- 100% = Percentage of Trinity and Centenary teachers who hold a university degree or teaching certificate.
- Top 15% = Consistent national rank of Trinity and Centenary student scores on the Ugandan Examination Board annual standardized tests
YES! sponsors provide critically needed education for their sponsored student and help ensure the successful continuation of these two Ugandan schools.
YES! sponsorships for the 2012 academic year (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012) are needed in four categories:
- $100 Trinity Children’s Centre tuition for the 2012 academic year for one primary school student.
- $300 Trinity Children’s Centre tuition and board for the 2012 academic year for one primary school student.
- $800 Centenary High School tuition and board for the 2012 academic year for one secondary student.
- $____ Sponsorships of any amount towards an annual tuition are greatly appreciated. These donations will be combined with those of other YES! donors to jointly sponsor a student for his or her year or to defray education related expenses for the two schools.
PLEASE SAY YES! Click here to donate now to The YES! Program.
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