About Us

PEAS (Promoting Equality in African Schools) is a UK based charity. Our mission is to unlock the potential of Africa by delivering equal access to affordable, quality secondary education. 

What is the problem?

In 1997, the Ugandan government (followed by other African governments) implemented a programme of Universal Primary Education (UPE). This boosted enrolment in primary education to 93%, although the quality is often poor. A programme of Universal Secondary Education (USE) started in 2007 and has increased enrolment at secondary level to 25% of all primary leavers. But that leaves three in four primary leavers with nowhere to continue their education. Uganda needs more affordable secondary schools now. Our dream is to see truly universal, quality secondary education for all Ugandans.

‘Failure to absorb the growing number of primary school leavers will undermine Universal Primary Education and broader National goals like the elimination of poverty’ –Yusuf Nsubuga, Ugandan Commissioner for Secondary Education

What is PEAS doing?

PEAS is best thought of as a social investor rather than a charity. We use a SmartAid approach to create sustainable secondary schools. These schools generate enough internal revenue (through low fees, government subsidy and income generating projects) to run indefinitely and independently of UK fundraising. PEAS raises funds for the capital and start-up costs of building a school, allowing the schools to open debt-free. The PEAS Uganda team then helps the schools to run efficiently, through school inspections and feedback and by auditing the accounts every term. As the schools grow, PEAS invests in building new classrooms and facilities. Quite simply, the PEAS SmartAid model is making secondary education available to thousands of young Ugandans. To find out more about our model click here.

PEAS has built, and runs, eight secondary schools in Uganda and the number of students enroling has increased year-on-year. PEAS schools are currently educating nearly 3,000 young Ugandans who may otherwise not have gone to secondary school.

A lack of secondary school places is an pan-African problem. PEAS is building its first school in Zambia this year and we may expand to other countries in the future.