Schools complain of poor funding
Feb 01, 2010
SCHOOLS across the country opened yesterday for the first academic term, with a call for increased support from the Government.
By Taddeo Bwambale
SCHOOLS across the country opened yesterday for the first academic term, with a call for increased support from the Government.
Most head teachers interviewed, mainly implementing the Universal Secondary Education programme, appealed for increased funding, arguing that they are operating on a tight budget yet the number of students has increased.
Many complained of insufficient classrooms, boarding facilities and teachers’ accommodation, and of inadequate pay for teachers.
Martin Okiria, the head teacher at Ngora High School, said the infrastructure in his school is dilapidated and needs renovation. He also said teachers lack appropriate accommodation.
“Our teaching staff needs to be housed within the school premises. We do not have enough staff quarters,†he said.
He added that the school runs a special programme for deaf students which needs additional funding from the education ministry.
The head teacher of Old Kampala SS, Emmanuel Mukasa, complained that many teachers are not on the Government payroll. The school has over 2,000 students, making it one of the biggest schools in the city.
Mukasa also complained that students often pay fees late because they come from low-income families.
Haulah Ndagire, the deputy head teacher of Nagulu Seed Secondary School in Wakiso, said the Government policy that parents should not pay for meals was straining the school’s budget. She said the school was receiving many students yet the facilities were not enough for all of them.
Ndagire decried the high rate of pregnancy among girls, saying three to four students get pregnant every term. She appealed to the Government to support the construction of more classrooms and teachers houses.
The head teacher of Kabale Secondary School, Odongo Alupakusadi, complained that the school does not have enough classrooms and the performance is poor as a result. He also remarked that the school was finding it hard to provide food to students due to the small budget.
Brother John Ssenkabirwa, the head teacher of Caltec Academy, appealed to the Government to subsidise scholastic materials such as textbooks in order to provide learning materials to more students. He also appealed for Government funding for privately owned schools in order to cater for needy students.
Patrick Mbayo, the head teacher of Nyondo SS, said the Government needs to provide more funds for classrooms, furniture and a fully stocked library. The school expects over 1,000 students this term.
Remegio Byamukama, the head teacher of St. Mary’s Rushoroza in Kabale, said remuneration for teachers was inadequate.
Joseph Olokojo, the head teacher of St. Peter’s College Tororo, said the removal of capitation grants was affecting the running of the school. He said the boys’ school needs more classrooms but there were not enough funds.
Ananias Sekkoba, the head teacher of Luwero SS, said the number of students this year was overwhelming. He said the USE school was not able to provide meals to the students.
Bwera SS head teacher Ndungo Muhindo complained that his school is operating on a limited budget of less than sh200m, down from sh630m before the school was turned into a USE school. Bwera is among the schools earmarked to benefit from a World Bank project.
The deputy head teacher of St. Mary’s Secondary School in Nkozi, Patrick Ssemalawa said the school is facing a water shortage and needed a borehole, which he said is expensive to build.
Meanwhile there was commotion in the city at both the taxi and bus terminals due to big number of students returning to school in various parts of the country.
The banks were also flooded with parents and students, either to deposit fees or withdraw cash. At Centenary Bank on Entebbe road, armed Police officers and other private security personnel were deployed as parents engaged in a scuffle with the bank staff.
The scuffle erupted after parents who had come to withdraw money from the automated teller machines found them empty.
“We are very disappointed because this is not what we expected on such a day. I came to withdraw money from ATM but found nothing. I went to the other one on Mukwano Arcade but found nothing,†said Peter Musoke.
The bank authorities refused to comment on the issue, saying the situation was under control.
Some taxi and bus operators also increased fares, creating more hardships to parents and students.
“My parents gave me sh4,500 for transport to Jinja but I found it raised to sh6,000,†said Robert Mukisa, a student at Jinja High School.
The taxis from Kampala to Masaka increased fares to sh10,000, up from sh7,000 and Fort Portal charges to sh14,000, up from sh12,000. Mbarara buses increased fares to sh25,000 up from sh15,000.
UTODA chairman John Ndyomugyenyi criticised operators who had hiked the fares. “It is not our position as UTODA and whoever is doing it should stop. We are going to carry out investigations,†he said. He appealed to the public to report fare hikes to their offices.
Additional reporting by Jeff Lule, Bryan Mayanja and Stella Naigino
SCHOOLS across the country opened yesterday for the first academic term, with a call for increased support from the Government.
Most head teachers interviewed, mainly implementing the Universal Secondary Education programme, appealed for increased funding, arguing that they are operating on a tight budget yet the number of students has increased.
Many complained of insufficient classrooms, boarding facilities and teachers’ accommodation, and of inadequate pay for teachers.
Martin Okiria, the head teacher at Ngora High School, said the infrastructure in his school is dilapidated and needs renovation. He also said teachers lack appropriate accommodation.
“Our teaching staff needs to be housed within the school premises. We do not have enough staff quarters,†he said.
He added that the school runs a special programme for deaf students which needs additional funding from the education ministry.
The head teacher of Old Kampala SS, Emmanuel Mukasa, complained that many teachers are not on the Government payroll. The school has over 2,000 students, making it one of the biggest schools in the city.
Mukasa also complained that students often pay fees late because they come from low-income families.
Haulah Ndagire, the deputy head teacher of Nagulu Seed Secondary School in Wakiso, said the Government policy that parents should not pay for meals was straining the school’s budget. She said the school was receiving many students yet the facilities were not enough for all of them.
Ndagire decried the high rate of pregnancy among girls, saying three to four students get pregnant every term. She appealed to the Government to support the construction of more classrooms and teachers houses.
The head teacher of Kabale Secondary School, Odongo Alupakusadi, complained that the school does not have enough classrooms and the performance is poor as a result. He also remarked that the school was finding it hard to provide food to students due to the small budget.
Brother John Ssenkabirwa, the head teacher of Caltec Academy, appealed to the Government to subsidise scholastic materials such as textbooks in order to provide learning materials to more students. He also appealed for Government funding for privately owned schools in order to cater for needy students.
Patrick Mbayo, the head teacher of Nyondo SS, said the Government needs to provide more funds for classrooms, furniture and a fully stocked library. The school expects over 1,000 students this term.
Remegio Byamukama, the head teacher of St. Mary’s Rushoroza in Kabale, said remuneration for teachers was inadequate.
Joseph Olokojo, the head teacher of St. Peter’s College Tororo, said the removal of capitation grants was affecting the running of the school. He said the boys’ school needs more classrooms but there were not enough funds.
Ananias Sekkoba, the head teacher of Luwero SS, said the number of students this year was overwhelming. He said the USE school was not able to provide meals to the students.
Bwera SS head teacher Ndungo Muhindo complained that his school is operating on a limited budget of less than sh200m, down from sh630m before the school was turned into a USE school. Bwera is among the schools earmarked to benefit from a World Bank project.
The deputy head teacher of St. Mary’s Secondary School in Nkozi, Patrick Ssemalawa said the school is facing a water shortage and needed a borehole, which he said is expensive to build.
Meanwhile there was commotion in the city at both the taxi and bus terminals due to big number of students returning to school in various parts of the country.
The banks were also flooded with parents and students, either to deposit fees or withdraw cash. At Centenary Bank on Entebbe road, armed Police officers and other private security personnel were deployed as parents engaged in a scuffle with the bank staff.
The scuffle erupted after parents who had come to withdraw money from the automated teller machines found them empty.
“We are very disappointed because this is not what we expected on such a day. I came to withdraw money from ATM but found nothing. I went to the other one on Mukwano Arcade but found nothing,†said Peter Musoke.
The bank authorities refused to comment on the issue, saying the situation was under control.
Some taxi and bus operators also increased fares, creating more hardships to parents and students.
“My parents gave me sh4,500 for transport to Jinja but I found it raised to sh6,000,†said Robert Mukisa, a student at Jinja High School.
The taxis from Kampala to Masaka increased fares to sh10,000, up from sh7,000 and Fort Portal charges to sh14,000, up from sh12,000. Mbarara buses increased fares to sh25,000 up from sh15,000.
UTODA chairman John Ndyomugyenyi criticised operators who had hiked the fares. “It is not our position as UTODA and whoever is doing it should stop. We are going to carry out investigations,†he said. He appealed to the public to report fare hikes to their offices.
Additional reporting by Jeff Lule, Bryan Mayanja and Stella Naigino