UN: Educate youth effectively to promote independence

The United Nations (UN) has called on the Ugandan government to step up efforts to educate youth in a bid to tackle rising youth unemployment in the country.

While the Ugandan government has implemented several education programmes, such as the presidential initiative for the Girl/Boy Child project, the UN says more needs to be done to effectively tackle youth unemployment.

“For these programmes to have a transformative impact, we need to scale them up until they reach critical mass,” said Susan Namondo, the UN’s permanent coordinator in Uganda. Monitor on tuesday.

She added: “Even with the commendable work being done, about 50 percent of Uganda’s 7.7 million rural residents are not in education, training or employment; they remain floating.”

Preliminary 2024 census figures show that Uganda is a young country, with 50.5 percent (23.1 million) of the population under the age of 17.

Census data also shows that 22.7 percent (10.4 million) of the population is made up of young people between the ages of 18 and 30, while 55.6 percent (25.5 million) of the working-age population is between the ages of 14 and 64.

“Every young person must have the capacity to realise their full potential. This means providing access to quality education and ensuring that young people participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives,” Namondo noted.

Anne Sizomu, Programme Specialist for Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), said attention must be paid to the vulnerabilities of young people so they can fulfil their potential.

“If a young person, especially a girl, does not have access to basic necessities like food, even if they have the information, their skills can be undermined. They may face exploitation or lack of access to sanitary products. That is why it is crucial to integrate livelihood support with skills,” Sizomu said.

She added: “With one in four adolescents under the age of 19 pregnant or having given birth, we are losing potential. Many young people are losing interest in education because they need to earn money. The impact of COVID-19 has left students feeling disillusioned and disconnected from education.”

Danish Ambassador to Uganda Signe Winding Albjerg said educating youth also boosts economic growth.

“How we engage and empower them today will determine the future of our nations. In my interactions with young people in Uganda and beyond, their fresh perspectives and innovative ideas have continually inspired me. Such ideas are vital to fostering forward thinking and creativity,” Albjerg previously said Monitor.