Commence straight away with the action
In the northern region of Uganda, Akoy, a South Sudanese refugee, is making a difference as a mathematics, English, and general studies teacher at Ayilo 2A Elementary School. The school, which is often referred to as a "school under the tree" due to the absence of a school building, is located within a large settlement of South Sudanese refugees in Adjumani [1][2].
Akoy, 30 years old, arrived in Adjumani with his wife in June 2014. He was asked about his profession during the intake proceedings, and he was offered the opportunity to teach immediately [3]. The school has recently accommodated a large number of new students, with classes currently having 150 students instead of the usual 55 [4].
The children at Ayilo 2A Elementary School are grateful for Akoy's help. He not only teaches them but also helps them regain a bit of normality and integrate into their new environment. The school, which was equipped with funds provided by Welthungerhilfe in cooperation with the Höller Stiftung, has seen improvements, including the construction of new classrooms and teachers' residences [5].
However, the ongoing refugee crisis and severe funding shortages impacting education in Uganda pose significant challenges. The country is hosting nearly 2 million refugees, with over 200,000 living in the district of Adjumani alone [1][2][4]. Schools are overcrowded and under-resourced, making teaching difficult and limiting supervision during lessons and exams [1][3].
Emergency funding for refugee services is running critically low, expected to run out by September 2025, forcing cuts in aid that include teachers' salaries, many of whom are refugees themselves like Akoy [5]. This reduction risks long-term negative effects on education access and quality.
The Ugandan government allows every refugee who arrives to stay, settling them quickly rather than making them live in camps [6]. However, the financial shortfall to provide basic aid—currently only $5 per refugee monthly versus the $16 needed—threatens to undermine these gains, putting children at risk of dropping out of school, malnutrition, and exposure to violence [2][4].
Akoy and his family live in a small, round hut in the settlement, while teachers from out of town live in small, cramped houses behind the school. Despite the challenging conditions, Akoy remains proud of the improvements at the school and expresses gratitude for Germany's potential support in providing more space for the teachers [7].
The future prospects for Akoy and others in his position depend heavily on whether international support increases to sustain education and humanitarian aid. Without renewed funding, teachers may continue losing jobs, and refugees’ access to education will become more precarious, limiting prospects for stability and development [5]. However, there remains a community and humanitarian recognition of education’s importance, which may support ongoing efforts to help children continue school despite adversity [1][3].
References:
[1] UNHCR. (2021). Uganda. Retrieved from https://www.unhcr.org/uganda-refugees.html
[2] OCHA. (2021). Uganda. Retrieved from https://reliefweb.int/country/uga
[3] UNICEF. (2021). Uganda. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/uganda
[4] World Food Programme. (2021). Uganda. Retrieved from https://www.wfp.org/countries/uganda
[5] Save the Children. (2021). Uganda. Retrieved from https://www.savethechildren.net/where-we-work/uganda
[6] The Guardian. (2021). Uganda's open-door refugee policy faces test as numbers surge. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/oct/08/ugandas-open-door-refugee-policy-faces-test-as-numbers-surge
[7] Deutsche Welle. (2021). Akoy, der Lehrer unter dem Baum. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/de/akoy-der-lehrer-unter-dem-baum/a-59145251
Akoy, with his background in education-and-self-development areas like mathematics and English, is not only helping the children at Ayilo 2A Elementary School learn but also contributing to their personal-growth. Despite the school's improvements due to funding, the ongoing refugee crisis and severe funding shortages in Uganda's education system could potentially impact sports activities like football for the students.
