Parents’ income levels and enrolment of primary school Pupils in Butansi Sub-County, Kamuli district. A cross-sectional study.

Abstract

Background

Despite government efforts to expand access to Universal Primary Education (UPE), enrolment challenges persist in rural areas, largely influenced by household socio-economic conditions. This study examined the relationship between parents’ income levels and the enrolment of primary school pupils in Butansi Sub-County, Kamuli District.

Methodology

A descriptive cross-sectional research design was used, involving respondents selected through purposive and simple random sampling. Quantitative data were collected using structured questionnaires, while qualitative insights were obtained through interviews with head teachers. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis.

 Results

Most respondents were female (60%), aged 30–49 years, and dependent on subsistence farming (43.3%). Income levels were generally low, as reflected in parents’ limited ability to afford school-related expenses beyond UPE. Mean scores revealed that while most parents could enroll their children in UPE schools (M = 3.50), they struggled to meet costs associated with private tutoring (M = 2.40), textbooks (M = 2.50), and digital learning tools (M = 2.00). Enrolment analysis showed 8,400 pupils enrolled across P1–P7, with near gender parity (GPR = 0.99) but a high number of overage learners (n = 592). Correlation results revealed a strong positive association between parental income and pupil enrolment (r = 0.768, p = 0.002). Regression findings indicated that income level significantly predicted enrolment (β = 0.451, p < 0.001), accounting for 66% of the variance.

 Conclusion

Findings from the study showed a very strong positive correlation between parental income level and pupil enrolment. This suggests that households with higher income levels are significantly more likely to enrol their children in school.

 Recommendation

The Ministry of Education and local government should provide scholarships, bursaries, or school fee waivers for pupils from low-income households.