Govt releases sh1.3b for IDP students
Jul 02, 2004
THE Government has released sh1.3b to pay school fees for post-primary school students in Internally Displaced Persons
By Milton Olupot and Henry Mukasa
THE Government has released sh1.3b to pay school fees for post-primary school students in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Education state minister Geraldine Bitamazire on Thursday told Parliament that the payment would be effected in the next few weeks.
A total of 23,506 students will benefit from the project.
While responding to issues raised by the select committee on the humanitarian and security situation in Acholi, Lango and Teso, Bitamazire said the recommendation had been overtaken by events because the money had already been released.
She said the sh1.3b was an emergency grant for second and third term but more would be done to streamline the budget to cover all affected students in the area.
She told the House presided over by deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga that construction of a boarding school for war orphans was underway in Gulu.
“The memorandum of understanding was signed and funding has been allocated. Over sh1.375b has already been released,†she said.
Bitamazire said the list of beneficiaries was ready and the cheques were being dispatched to the respective schools.
The select committee chaired by Alice Alaso (Soroti) recommended that free secondary education be availed to children from affected areas at Ordinary and Advanced levels.
She said government would extend financial support to meet the costs of education in some tertiary institutions in the area, adding that primary teacher education has been free for over three years now.
The MPs also recommended that government considers implementing a Parliament resolution to give districts their quotas for entry into public universities.
Bitamazire said her ministry was waiting for a Cabinet decision on the issue. She said affirmative action was being implemented in admission into secondary schools.
The MPs said pupils and students in IDP camps study under very difficult circumstances.
THE Government has released sh1.3b to pay school fees for post-primary school students in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.
Education state minister Geraldine Bitamazire on Thursday told Parliament that the payment would be effected in the next few weeks.
A total of 23,506 students will benefit from the project.
While responding to issues raised by the select committee on the humanitarian and security situation in Acholi, Lango and Teso, Bitamazire said the recommendation had been overtaken by events because the money had already been released.
She said the sh1.3b was an emergency grant for second and third term but more would be done to streamline the budget to cover all affected students in the area.
She told the House presided over by deputy Speaker Rebecca Kadaga that construction of a boarding school for war orphans was underway in Gulu.
“The memorandum of understanding was signed and funding has been allocated. Over sh1.375b has already been released,†she said.
Bitamazire said the list of beneficiaries was ready and the cheques were being dispatched to the respective schools.
The select committee chaired by Alice Alaso (Soroti) recommended that free secondary education be availed to children from affected areas at Ordinary and Advanced levels.
She said government would extend financial support to meet the costs of education in some tertiary institutions in the area, adding that primary teacher education has been free for over three years now.
The MPs also recommended that government considers implementing a Parliament resolution to give districts their quotas for entry into public universities.
Bitamazire said her ministry was waiting for a Cabinet decision on the issue. She said affirmative action was being implemented in admission into secondary schools.
The MPs said pupils and students in IDP camps study under very difficult circumstances.