Is secondary school within your reach?
Feb 09, 2003
S1 students report to school on February 17. However, some P7 leavers will never see the blackboard at secondary level due to financial constraints
S1 students report to school on February 17. However, some P7 leavers will never see the blackboard at secondary level due to financial constraints, writes Denis Jjuuko
Education is the key to a bright future,†we have always been told. But what these folks do not tell you is that education, especially secondary is very costly. This does not mean that primary, tertiary and any other form of education is not important.
In a country like ours, secondary education is the issue. If you think it is not, ask some of the former Members of Parliament (MPs) like the one for Bukomansimbi in Masaka district who lost his high-profile seat (plus those cool millions) because of lack of secondary school certification.
Primary education like the word itself is very important but one can’t lose much sleep over that simply because the government introduced Universal Primary Education (UPE).
A child here is given the opportunity to have access to teachers and classroom facilities free of charge up to primary seven.
As we wait for Universal Secondary Education (USE), it is important to know the cost of secondary schooling.
A survey carried out around Kampala found that most schools charge not less than sh100,000 as tuition fees per a term.
Most schools ranged between sh150,000 to sh500,000.
Makerere College School, basically a day school, a Senior One student is required to pay sh179,000, the same for continuing students.
On top of that, a student has got to pay for two pairs of uniform, shoes, sweater, socks, a T-shirt and sports shoes and a text book for the development of the school library.
Mrs Rose Izizinga, the headteacher, says that parents are given a chance to pay in installments.
“We do not ask for fees to be paid in a lump sum, those who come here and explain to us are given that chance to pay in installments,†she says.
Asked whether students from UPE schools are given preferential treatment, Izizinga says this is not always necessary.
“Here we design a payment schedule for all parents with school fees problems, which sets different dates when an installment is expected.
“We encourage communication between us and the parents so that they are helped,†she adds.
On the question of huge sums of money required, she says that schools have got a lot of expenses and most of the funds go towards meeting these expenses.
At Gayaza High School, whether a student has been to a UPE school or not is not an issue.
An administrator who chose anonymity says the school charges amount to sh496,000 which is divided into two.
A boarding fee of sh299,000 caters for meals and tuition. and a development capital of sh197,000 helps in putting up new facilities.
“Last time, we used it to purchase a school bus, now we are using it to construct new classroom and dormitory blocks,†the administrator says.
Like Makerere College School, parents here are allowed to pay in installments.
“We always allow parents to pay in installments so long as the whole amount is paid before the term ends,†she added.
On top of that, a student is required to pay for two sets of school uniform.
For private secondary schools, it is even worse. The fees charged at times are astronomical. Some schools ask for reams of both duplicating and ruled paper (some specify the brand), ink, brooms or brushes and a bag of cement.
In some schools, one set of uniform goes for as much as sh100,000.
It is all about choice and affordability some parents say.
“Some schools are expensive but we still have alternatives. The important thing is to provide education for your children.
“If you can’t afford expensive private schools, why should you think about them?†says John Kakoza whose two daughters attend Makerere College School.
There are those, however, who cannot afford even the cheapest secondary school in the rural areas.
For them, this level of education remains a distant dream, like rain in the desert.
Education is the key to a bright future,†we have always been told. But what these folks do not tell you is that education, especially secondary is very costly. This does not mean that primary, tertiary and any other form of education is not important.
In a country like ours, secondary education is the issue. If you think it is not, ask some of the former Members of Parliament (MPs) like the one for Bukomansimbi in Masaka district who lost his high-profile seat (plus those cool millions) because of lack of secondary school certification.
Primary education like the word itself is very important but one can’t lose much sleep over that simply because the government introduced Universal Primary Education (UPE).
A child here is given the opportunity to have access to teachers and classroom facilities free of charge up to primary seven.
As we wait for Universal Secondary Education (USE), it is important to know the cost of secondary schooling.
A survey carried out around Kampala found that most schools charge not less than sh100,000 as tuition fees per a term.
Most schools ranged between sh150,000 to sh500,000.
Makerere College School, basically a day school, a Senior One student is required to pay sh179,000, the same for continuing students.
On top of that, a student has got to pay for two pairs of uniform, shoes, sweater, socks, a T-shirt and sports shoes and a text book for the development of the school library.
Mrs Rose Izizinga, the headteacher, says that parents are given a chance to pay in installments.
“We do not ask for fees to be paid in a lump sum, those who come here and explain to us are given that chance to pay in installments,†she says.
Asked whether students from UPE schools are given preferential treatment, Izizinga says this is not always necessary.
“Here we design a payment schedule for all parents with school fees problems, which sets different dates when an installment is expected.
“We encourage communication between us and the parents so that they are helped,†she adds.
On the question of huge sums of money required, she says that schools have got a lot of expenses and most of the funds go towards meeting these expenses.
At Gayaza High School, whether a student has been to a UPE school or not is not an issue.
An administrator who chose anonymity says the school charges amount to sh496,000 which is divided into two.
A boarding fee of sh299,000 caters for meals and tuition. and a development capital of sh197,000 helps in putting up new facilities.
“Last time, we used it to purchase a school bus, now we are using it to construct new classroom and dormitory blocks,†the administrator says.
Like Makerere College School, parents here are allowed to pay in installments.
“We always allow parents to pay in installments so long as the whole amount is paid before the term ends,†she added.
On top of that, a student is required to pay for two sets of school uniform.
For private secondary schools, it is even worse. The fees charged at times are astronomical. Some schools ask for reams of both duplicating and ruled paper (some specify the brand), ink, brooms or brushes and a bag of cement.
In some schools, one set of uniform goes for as much as sh100,000.
It is all about choice and affordability some parents say.
“Some schools are expensive but we still have alternatives. The important thing is to provide education for your children.
“If you can’t afford expensive private schools, why should you think about them?†says John Kakoza whose two daughters attend Makerere College School.
There are those, however, who cannot afford even the cheapest secondary school in the rural areas.
For them, this level of education remains a distant dream, like rain in the desert.