Gov't to construct 293 Primary schools

By Joyce Namuutebi            
                
Government has announced priority areas in education in 2015/16 financial year including Construction of 293 Primary schools in the country and increase of salaries for lecturers in public universities.

This is contained in the budget speech read by finance minister, Matia Kasaija.

He also announced increase in the capitation and school facilities grants by an additional hs39.78 billion to ensure better effectiveness of the UPE, USE/UPOLET programmes.

He said there would be increase of salaries for lecturers in all public universities with an additional funding of Sh50bn. “This enhancement will raise the Professor’s pay from the current shs.4.1 million to sh6.3 million per month,” he said.

Other priorities in the budget include training 4,000 head teachers and orienting 10,000 school management committees in leadership and management skills. In addition, 12,000 teachers and head teachers will be trained in delivering literacy and numeracy in primary 1 to primary 3 in 27 worst performing districts.

 Also enhancing vocational and skills development by implementing the Skilling Uganda Project with additional funding of sh5.9 billion; increasing access to tertiary education by expanding the  Student Loan Scheme with an additional allocation of sh6billion for loans to 1,000 new degree students and 200 diploma students.

The Teachers SACCO, he said will also be supported with an additional Sh5b in order to increase access to affordable financial and credit facilities;