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Why education is not helping the poor. Findings from Uganda

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  • Datzberger, Simone

Abstract

Education emerged as a nearly uncontested development strategy to tackle several forms of social, political, economic and geographic inequalities in low- and middle-income countries. When it comes to the case of Uganda, the country represents a striking paradox. Significant investments and policy reforms in education (such as Universal Primary and Secondary Education) since 1997, did not translate into the expected results with regards to poverty reduction through human capital investment. Progress in poverty alleviation is not only stagnant but the role of education therein can be described as ‘modest’ at best. Against this backdrop, this article assesses the following research question: Why did Uganda’s investments and policy reforms in education not uplift the poor? In examining the issue, this article introduces a theoretical framework that contrasts assimilative with transformative approaches in poverty alleviation through education. A rigorous review of Uganda’s education sector plans revealed that current strategies to reduce poverty revolve around a strong assimilation-based development agenda, thereby focusing on three main areas of intervention: (a) increased access to education and retention; (b) improved quality of education; and (c) employment generation through education. The article finds that these assimilative approaches do not have an impact on the political, economic and social structures that cause poverty in the first place. Hence, it concludes that assimilative models in education are highly dependent on transformative approaches. Concretely, change cannot emerge only at the very grassroots level, i.e. through educating society at large, but also has to arise from the systemic level, i.e. government institutions at the local, national and global levels. Methodologically, the analysis draws on qualitative data that was collected in the course of two extensive field research stays in 2015 and 2017. In addition, quantitative data in the form of statistical abstracts inform the analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Datzberger, Simone, 2018. "Why education is not helping the poor. Findings from Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 124-139.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:110:y:2018:i:c:p:124-139
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.05.022
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    Cited by:

    1. Datzberger, Simone, 2022. "Lost in transition? Modernization, formal education and violence in Karamoja," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    2. Leonhard, Lucas Kori, 2025. "Sectoral effects of development aid on post-war violence: spatially disaggregated evidence from the Great Lakes region," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    3. Hiroyuki Takeshima, 2024. "Public Expenditure’s Role in Reducing Poverty and Improving Food and Nutrition Security: Cross-Country Evidence from SPEED Data," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(5), pages 1045-1073, October.
    4. Datzberger, Simone & Parkes, Jenny & Bhatia, Amiya & Nagawa, Rehema & Kasidi, Joan Ritar & Musenze, Brian Junior & Devries, Karen, 2024. "Young people’s experiences of informal kinship care in Luwero, Uganda," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 159(C).
    5. Datzberger, Simone, 2022. "Education and empowerment: Voices from Ugandan youth," Working Papers 66, Austrian Foundation for Development Research (ÖFSE).
    6. Stephanie Chamberlin & Leah Pauline & Patrick M. Krueger, 2025. "Community and Individual Education Influences on Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge in Uganda: A Human Capital and Social Learning Perspective," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 44(4), pages 1-35, August.
    7. Shreya Pal, 2024. "Do economic globalization and the level of education impede poverty levels? A non-linear ARDL approach," The Journal of Economic Inequality, Springer;Society for the Study of Economic Inequality, vol. 22(3), pages 621-667, September.
    8. Haenssgen, Marco J. & Charoenboon, Nutcha & Zanello, Giacomo, 2021. "You’ve got a friend in me: How social networks and mobile phones facilitate healthcare access among marginalised groups in rural Thailand and Lao PDR," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    9. Christopher Pryor & Shaker A. Zahra & Garry D. Bruton, 2023. "Trusting without a Safety Net: The Peril of Trust in Base of the Pyramid Economies," Journal of Management Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(4), pages 767-799, June.
    10. Datzberger, Simone & Le Mat, Marielle L.J., 2019. "Schools as change agents? Education and individual political agency in Uganda," International Journal of Educational Development, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 18-28.
    11. Carmen Păunescu & Elisabeta Molnar, 2020. "Country’s Entrepreneurial Environment Predictors for Starting a New Venture—Evidence for Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(18), pages 1-18, September.
    12. Dai, Li & Martins, Pedro S., 2024. "Does vocational education pay off in China? Evidence from city-level education supply shocks," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    13. Hayley Jones, 2022. "Brazil's Bolsa Família Programme: Aspirations and Realities of Poverty Reduction and Intergenerational Change," Development and Change, International Institute of Social Studies, vol. 53(3), pages 600-622, May.

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