To The President of the Republic of Uganda
H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Dear Mr. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,

I am Nabifo Irene, a Ugandan citizen and educator. I am reaching out to the President of the republic of Uganda concerning the increased rates of school dropout and high rates of teenage pregnancy among the school age children. My understating, as a young citizen of Uganda, is that our education system does not tackle the demands of society. There are more educated Ugandans today than in the past, but still not employed either in the formal or informal sectors. The education system could better prepare young citizens for a future of ever changing jobs, by providing them with soft skills, critical thinking, and leadership skills. This will better prepare the citizens of Uganda to become job creators and respond to the challenges of our society.

In September this year, the Transforming Education Summit will be held in New York: an important political moment for leaders of all countries to come together and discuss the changes they are committed to in their education systems. I expect HE the president of Uganda to deliver Uganda’s National State of Commitment, reassuring us, the citizens of Uganda, and the world, of our engagement in changing this country. As a concerned citizen, I describe below the changes I expect to see in the education system of my country:

1. Revising the remuneration of teachers, lecturers and all educationists: Uganda is a country where teachers are the least paid and not valued at all. This demoralizes teachers and do not give them the tools they need to do their jobs adequately 
2. Improving infrastructure in schools: most schools don’t have classrooms, laboratories and libraries, which can be an important environment for the learning experience and socialization. Infrastructure in our case can also mean decent housing for the teachers, which is not yet the case for many Ugandan teachers. 
3. The issue of instruction’s materials: most government schools don’t have textbooks to facilitate teaching and learning. But above all poor remuneration of teachers has affected the education system in Uganda. 
4. International cooperation on the research field and curricula building: such a space would give an opportunity to the leaders to hear from different countries and institutions and it would facilitate comparative study guides, having a positive impact in the long run. 

Considering the above, I would like to request the Minister of education and sports of Uganda, who also doubles as the first lady, to commit to the government to submit Uganda’s National Statement of Commitment to the Summit. I would also like to request the president of the republic of Uganda HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to show solidarity with the country on transforming the education system.

Your sincerely,

Nabifo Irene, a concerned young citizen of Uganda