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THE CHALLENGES FACING ORPHANS AND VULNERABLE PUPILS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN ENTEBBE MUNICIPALITY

In Uganda the number of OVCs resulted from different causes such as death of parents from diseases e.g AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), accidents and those with divorced parents is drastically increasing. OVCs are among the most vulnerable members of the society, often lacking basic needs (food, clothing and shelter) and services related to better Education. Undoubtedly, the number of AIDS OVCs is increasing at an alarming rate and parental death due to AIDS has resulted in their school dropouts, labour exploitation, stigma and discrimination. In this study the target population consisted of all OVPs (from primary 4, primary 5, primary 6 and primary 7) and all teachers, all head of schools, Director of studies in primary schools in Entebbe municipality. The study took place in Entebbe municipality in Wakiso District in Buganda Region; it is a region, which is doing well in academic performance at National level (National Examinations). The reputation of Entebbe municipality in academic performance made a researcher to be interested in investigating the academic performance of OVPs in presence of prevailing challenges they normally face in primary schools. The main focus of the study was to examine the challenges facing OVPs in academic performance in primary schools in Entebbe municipality. The researcher reviewed related literature on the effectiveness of those challenges facing OVPs in academic performance in primary school in Entebbe municipality and established that there was limited research on the same locally. Through the review of literature it was also found out that different research done put more emphasis on the challenges facing AIDS OVPs in primary schools but did not concentrate on the challenges facing OVPs from different causes in academic performance in primary schools in Uganda, particularly Entebbe municipality. The major findings of this research involved the identified difference between the number of OVPs in public primary schools and that of private primary schools. There are more OVPs in public primary schools than in public primary. As it was observed by a researcher that OVPs in Public primary schools expressed themselves more easily without any fear contrary to those OVPs in Private primary schools. These findings also related to the differences in criteria used by teachers in both public and private primary schools on identifying OVPs. There were different criteria used by teachers in public primary schools and no criteria of identifying OVPs in Private primary schools. Identifying OVPs is crucial as far as the issue of providing support in term of eradicating or minimizing the challenges they face in academic performance is concerned. Also, it was found out that, the support from the government and other stakeholders to deal with the challenges facing OVPs in academic performance is very minimal in relation to the existing number of OVPs. This can be taken into account that the academic performance of OVPs does not rely on the provision of school fees only, but also depend much on availability of basic needs (like foods, clothing and shelter) and psychological help relating to alleviation of traumas of their parental death.

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Author: kyagera robert
Contributed by: asbat digital library
Institution: nkumba university
Level: university
Sublevel: under-graduate
Type: dissertations