Title: Libraries as Catalysts for STEAM Engagement: A Strategy for Uganda's Educational Transformation
Authors: Dr. Arinaitwe Julius, Ahumuza Audrey, Asiimwe Isaac Kazaara
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
Pages: 330-338
Publication Date: 2026/05/28
Abstract:
Libraries have long served as repositories of knowledge, yet their transformative potential as active catalysts for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) engagement remains significantly underexplored in the Ugandan educational landscape. This study examined the role of school and community libraries in fostering STEAM participation among secondary school students in Uganda, with particular emphasis on resource availability, librarian facilitation competency, and institutional support structures. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, involving a stratified random sample of 480 students and 96 librarians drawn from 24 secondary schools across Uganda's four regions - Central, Eastern, Northern, and Western. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed through univariate descriptive statistics, bivariate chi-square tests and Pearson correlations, and multivariate binary logistic regression. Findings revealed that only 38.5% of libraries were adequately stocked with STEAM-specific materials, and merely 31.3% of librarians had received training in STEAM facilitation. Chi-square analysis established a statistically significant association between library resource adequacy and STEAM engagement (?² = 42.67, p < 0.001). Logistic regression analysis identified access to digital resources (AOR = 3.21, 95% CI: 2.14-4.82), trained librarians (AOR = 2.87, 95% CI: 1.93-4.26), and parental education level (AOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.22-2.49) as significant predictors of student STEAM engagement. Regional disparities were pronounced, with Central region libraries demonstrating substantially higher STEAM readiness compared to Northern region counterparts. These findings underscore the urgent need for a deliberate, policy-driven strategy to transform Ugandan libraries into vibrant STEAM hubs, supported by targeted investment, librarian capacity development, and community engagement frameworks.