Correlates of Girls’ Transition to Lower Secondary School for Scholarship-Supported Education in Refugee-Hosting Districts in Uganda

James Wokadala; Leonard Atuhaire

doi:10.25159/2312-3540/21495

Authors

James Wokadala Makerere University https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3492-0633
Leonard Atuhaire Makerere University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6166-093X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/2312-3540/21495

Keywords:

transition, lower secondary education, scholarship aided, refugee-hosting communities

Abstract

Girls’ transition from primary to secondary education, particularly for grant-aided schooling in the refugee communities in Uganda, cannot be overemphasised. This article investigates the correlates of girls’ transition from primary to lower secondary schools for scholarship-supported education in refugee-hosting districts in Uganda. The findings generate evidence on contextualised procedures and targeting mechanisms for beneficiaries of social protection support. The study uses logistic regression analysis on cross-sectional data collected from 8,684 pupils registered for primary leaving examinations in 612 primary schools (both public and private) located in refugee-hosting communities in Uganda. The survey targeted mainly girls in Grade 7 preparing to sit for their end of Grade 7 cycle examinations. The results reveal that an increase in students’ age reduces the odds of transition by 0.091. Moreover, having a mother or father alive significantly reduced the odds (at 1%) of transitioning to scholarship-supported education by 0.284 and 0.476, respectively. Ill health conditions and forms of disabilities significantly increased the odds by 0.901 and 0.316, respectively. Eligibility for transition to scholarship-supported education at secondary level takes into consideration socio-demographic, physical, and health well-being traits, and such contextualised targeting processes may be replicated in similar or related conditions of need for social protection initiatives.

Author Biography

Leonard Atuhaire, Makerere University

Leonard Atuhaire is a Professor of Social and Biostatistics at the School of Statistics and Planning, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

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