The effects of separation of parents on children’s rights to education in Uganda: a case study of Karambi Sub County, Kabarole District

Abstract

The study presents the findings of a year’s research in Karambi Sub County. The researcher chose Karambi Sub County because the area is strategic in terms of transport, accommodation and meals. An attempt has been made to explain the reasons for the separation of parents, the effect of this kind of separation on the children’s right to education and the enjoyment of that right in their lives. The separation of parents also affects the general behavior of children. Efforts were put to find out the government’s intervention to promote the right to education, and the challenges parents face after separation.

In spite of the intervention of the Uganda Government to promote and protect the right to education for children and in spite of the efforts to litigate in cases of divorce, the separation of parents still remains a problem affecting the right to education for children.

In the findings, the student found out that the percentage of children affected by separation is higher than those affected by orphanage or even HIV. Unfortunately, children of separated parents are at a disadvantage not to be helped by their relatives simply because their parents are not dead, they are alive. So the caretakers for example the grandparents with whom they leave the children keep throwing back the responsibility of providing the needs to these children. That they should contact their parents for these needs.

Children of separated parents suffer abuses/insults both at home and at school. Their performance at school is poor. Some children as young as twelve years have been left to head homes, those the researcher interacted with, had thoughts of living school, commit suicide or run away.

In chapter five general conclusion and recommendations are made for purposes of helping all the parties affected by separation like the children themselves, parents and the government of Uganda.