Education and skills for growth Uganda Economic Growth

Education and skills for growth Uganda Economic Growth Forum 22 nd AUGUST 2019

Introduction • This session focused on skills and education for the future of Uganda. • Primary education outcomes are very low compared to similar countries, and is stagnating. • An IGC study has shown that vocational training can be a useful solution in Uganda, as it upskills workers whilst also addressing the matching problem between firms and workers. • Uganda could do more to prepare for the digital economy, and improving digital literacy and access could become a catalyst for growth. 1

Speakers Chair: Dr. Ezra Suruma, Head, Prime Ministers Delivery Unit, OPM Economic Rapporteur: Mr. Aggrey Kibinge, Rep of Ministry of Education and Sports Presentation 1: Economic development and human capital in Uganda: A case for investing more in Education – Kirill Vasiliev, World Bank Presentation 2: Skills miss-match in the labour market: How can educational institutions help to equip the labour force with skills and raise labour productivity? – Anna Vitali, UCL Presentation 3: Human capital requirements in a digital economy – Diana Bagarukayo, World Bank Respondent: Victoria Brown, Ichuli Consulting 2

Actionable points 1. Full completion rates of primary education, while improving quality, by 2025 and raising the basic literacy and numeracy rates 2. Increase lower secondary education enrollment rate by 2025, while reducing geographical and gender equity and focusing on effective learning and skills acquisition: as a 1 st step roll out new curriculum 3. Increase returns to investments in vocational skills by ensuring certifiability: accredited VTIs, formal certificates, reference letters 4. Incentivize training skills for both firms and workers, returns can be around 34% (e. g staggered payments to VTIs, wage subisidies) 5. Invest in digital literacy so that every individual should be digitally enabled by 2030. 3

Thank you Uganda Economic Growth Forum 22 nd AUGUST 2019