Katikiro urges Govt to dedicate more funds to education sector

The Katikiro of Buganda, Charles Peter Mayiga, has urged the Government to dedicate more funds to the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) initiatives to ensure that Ugandan children get basic level education. 

Mayiga suggested this as an education reform, during the ongoing Education Policy Review exercise that is being carried out across the country with different stakeholders. 

The meeting that took place on February 22, at Bulange, Mengo, was led by Amanya Mushega, the Education Policy Review Commission (EPRC) chairperson and his team. Others who attended included officials from the Kingdom of Buganda and a selected number of students.

John Ngirabakunzi secretary general Association of Secondary School Head Teachers of Uganda (ASSHU) addressing the commissioners during the Association Of Secondary School Head Teachers of Uganda (ASSHU) presentation to the Education Policy Review Commission at the Commission Offices on November 15, 2022. Photo by Godiver Asege

The Katikiro said education is every child’s right that cannot be compromised and should, therefore, be enjoyed by all. 

“If the Government wants to provide free education for all, then they must increase funding for UPE and UPE programmes,” Mayiga said. 

He also noted that Rwanda, which neighbours Uganda, has set aside a substantial amount of its national budget to fund government schools.

“When this happened in Rwanda, parents started transferring their children from private to government-owned schools. Private schools were also forced to reduce the fees they had been charging because of the tight competition from government-owned schools,” he added.

ZULAIKA Nabukeera addressing the commissioners during the Association of Secondary School Head Teachers of Uganda (ASSHU) presentation to the Education Policy Review Commission at the Commission Offices on 15th November 2022. Photo by Godiver Asege

In his speech, Mayiga emphasised that for Uganda to realise quality education, its teachers must be highly skilled and qualified. They must also be well-paid. 

“For example, the best paid profession in Finland is teaching. As a matter of fact, most of their intelligent people study educational courses so that they can teach the young generation excellently. This is unlike in Uganda, where education is looked at with disdain,” he noted. 

That said, the Katikiro advised parents to fund their children’s education by providing meals at school and all the necessities they require to enjoy the education journey.

Mushega said the commission is getting as many views as possible, coupled with concrete proposals from different stakeholders, who are advised to be honest and bold in their submissions because their contribution will benefit the future of the children of Uganda. 

“We believe that tomorrow, people will come to Uganda to study, instead of our children heading out for kyeyo abroad. We shall pass these suggested views onto the Government for implementation, so that our children can get a better education and quality of life,” he said.

Govt to boost USE and UPE programme

According to recent statistics from the education ministry, Uganda has about 1,261 secondary schools under USE and 12,431 primary schools under the UPE programmes. 

Ketty Lamaro, the education ministry’s permanent secretary, says as learners reported for the first term on February 6, the Government released sh105b to cover the capitation grant for government-aided schools. Of this money, sh48.48b was for USE students, while sh47.55b was for learners under the UPE programme. 

The remaining sh9.73b was for decentralised skills development. She confirmed that the money was disbursed to the respective district local governments.

Teachers’ salary scale in government schools in Uganda

A university professor in a government-aided university earns sh15m per month while senior lecturers earn sh7.6m per month. 

Other lecturers in government universities usually earn between sh1.5m and sh4.5m, but this is stipulated by the university, not the government. 

A bachelor of science graduate teacher earns about sh1.2m per month, and an arts teacher earns about sh940,000 per month. 

The rate varies on grounds of whether one is a diploma or a degree holder. Meanwhile, primary school teachers earn just about sh500,000 per month, but this also varies, depending on the class one teaches.

Some teachers earn far less; sometimes as low as $80 (about sh300,000) per month. 

Lead photo caption: Katikkiro of Buganda Charles Peter Maiga (centre) interacting with the Education Policy Review Commission Chairperson Amanya Mushega after their meeting at Bulange, Mengo as former minister John Nasasira (right), Choltilda Kikomeko Nakate (2nd left) a Buganda official plus other representatives look on.