Minister Joe Costello launches new school programme in poorest part of Uganda

Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello TD has launched a school rehabilitation programme in Uganda.

The Minister launched the programme in Karamoja, the poorest area in the country during  a visit to see the impact of Ireland’s  support to Uganda’s most vulnerable communities and explore  options to strengthen trade between Ireland and Uganda.

The Irish Aid-funded Karamoja Primary Education Programme (KPEP) involves the rehabilitation of 21 primary schools in Karamoja, the poorest region in Uganda, where three quarters of the population lives below the poverty line and where literacy rates stand at 11%.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Costello said:

“The construction and rehabilitation of classrooms, dormitories, teachers’ accommodation and kitchens will support the poorest children in Uganda to access education, thereby improving their lifelong prospects and breaking the persistent cycle of poverty in a country where almost half the population is under the age of 15.”

The Minister also greeted the news that the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) has granted Uganda $100 million for the next three years to support the education sector:

“Ireland coordinates the GPE’s work in Uganda. I believe that this major grant will further enhance, and contribute to the provision of quality education for the nation’s youth.”

Press Office

5 December 2013

For further information, please contact the Press Office of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on (+353 1) 408 2058/ (+353) 87 7788835.

Notes for editor:

• Irish  Aid is the Government’s programme for overseas development. It is managed by the Development Cooperation Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
• Irish Aid work in Karamoja builds on support to education in the region which dates back to 2004.         
• The Global Partnership for Education is a partnership devoted to getting children from the developing world into school for a quality education. It is comprised of close to 60 developing countries, donor governments, international organizations, the private sector, teachers, and civil society/NGO groups.
• In 2011, 57 million primary-school aged children were out of school in developing countries, and millions more out of secondary school.