Ugandan parents cite education quality as their motivation for school choice
Many factors influence a parent’s decision regarding their child’s education. These range from quality, proximity, perceived prestige and teaching style; understanding these motivations is critical to designing schools that meet the needs and expectations of parents.
A Varkey Foundation study revealed that 66% of Ugandan parents rated government schools in their country as poor or very poor, with almost two thirds supporting the idea of the private sector supporting in the delivery of public school education. These findings indicate that the need for innovation is recognised not only by policy makers but by the families and parents directly affected.
Education in Uganda at Bridge schools
Every year Bridge Schools Uganda surveys its parents to understand what factors are affecting their choice of school. A survey, conducted in December 2018, determined that their principal reason for choosing Bridge was the quality of education — 97% of those surveyed who had recommended Bridge to someone else cited education quality as their motivation.
These results follow the 2018 Primary Leaving Exam (PLE) results where 95% of Bridge pupils passed — outperforming the nationwide average for the second consecutive year. For parents prioritising quality of education when selecting a school, Bridge is a clear frontrunner.
One Bridge Uganda parent testifies: “I have seen improvement in my child, every day he comes home and tells me what he learned at school.”
Many of the parents in the communities Bridge serves struggle to make ends meet. Ugandan education opens up the possibility of social mobility, meaning that it becomes a priority for parents trying to provide their child with the best possible future in life. A CPC survey substantiates findings that Ugandan parents ranked ‘schooling’ as the number one characteristic which determines if their child is ‘doing well’ in life. With Bridge turning out impressive results from year-to-year, it’s not surprising that parents take pride in the choice they have made — 98% of those surveyed identified themselves as ‘proud Bridge parents’, up from 95% the previous year.
Indicators of quality education
At the centre of any parent’s ability to feel safe and secure in their choice of school for their child lies their confidence in the teacher. A Twaweza study found that:
- almost half of Ugandan parents do not speak to anyone about Ugandan education problems they identify at their child’s school,
- a contrasting 85% of parents surveyed feel that their concerns and views are listened to at Bridge, signifying that the organisation is succeeding in breaking down communication barriers between school and parent.
- More than nine in every ten parents said they were happy with their child’s teacher.
In a country where teacher absenteeism is put at 27% by the World Bank, a classroom environment that sees parents happy with their teachers offers a potential step change.
Another aspect to the developing bond between school leaders, teachers and parents can be seen in the amount of participation from parents in school life. An impressive 97% of parents surveyed had attended a meeting at their child’s school. Holistic collaboration is an important factor in creating powerful learning environments and the evidence of parental engagement offers a promising indication for school success.
Overall, the annual parent satisfaction survey presents an opportunity to understand parent’s choices, learn what’s working and where improvements can be made. Understanding what motivates parents, could help policymakers develop schools that work more effectively for communities more broadly. What the survey shows is that above all parents want a quality education for their children and they make choices that deliver upon that.
