Budget should ease the cost of education
Jun 07, 2011
TODAY is budget day; and expectations are high in all sectors. As has been in the past, education is likely to take a big share of the national budget. In 2010/2011, the ministry was allocated sh1.139trillion. This figure is likely to increase.
By CONAN BUSINGE
TODAY is budget day; and expectations are high in all sectors. As has been in the past, education is likely to take a big share of the national budget. In 2010/2011, the ministry was allocated sh1.139trillion. This figure is likely to increase.
The increase of capitation for students in free primary (UPE) and secondary education (USE), salary increments and accommodation for teachers, come top on the wish list.
Reduction of taxes on scholastic materials, promotion of teachers, provision of lunch for students by the Government, are the other new moves being craved, by education stakeholders.
University administrators are anticipating an increase in the funding of higher education, and the expansion of public universities to accommodate the growing number of students. The loan scheme promised by the President is also on the priority list. Some issues may be attained while some will not be.
“I would like to see an improvement in the grants they send to UPE and USE schools in the country. I wish these grants are given priority in the new budget,†Rose Izizinga, the chairperson of the national association of secondary school head teachers says.
“I also know there is going to be free A ‘level education in the country but I wish it gets a meaningful budget so that it is successful,†she adds.
She also wishes the Government should increase the salaries, and accommodation for both primary and secondary teachers. She partly attributes absenteeism of teachers to the low pay because the teachers resort to other economic activities to earn more.
A primary school teacher gets slightly over 200,000 after taxation while a graduate secondary school teacher gets about sh400,000.
Her prayers may be partly answered today in the budget reading, since the education and sports permanent secretary, Francis-Xavier Lubanga, says the Government is committed to having the capitation grants for UPE and USE schools increased in the new National Budget.
Lubanga says with the rising inflation and the fact that the Government has taken long without increasing the rates, the education and finance ministries “have now provisions in the new financial year’s budget to increase capitation grants.â€
Today, every child under USE in private schools is allocated sh47,000 per term, while those in the government-aided schools get sh41,000. The aim of the capitation is to increase equitable access to education by removing the burden of parents paying school fees. It also aims to enhance the quality of education by providing schools with resources required to run the school.
Meanwhile, some of the private investors in education, especially foreigners are expecting the Government to reduce taxes on scholastic materials, and taxation of salaries.
Some educationists argue that the high costs of running schools may discourage foreign and local investors from joining the education sector. Turkish Light Academy’s headteacher Hakki Aydim says: “It is becoming complicated and discouraging to invest in the education sector. We need the taxes for foodstuffs and stationery reduced. The Pay As You Earn for teachers should also be reduced.â€
The headteacher of Mengo Secondary School, George William Semivule, says there may not be changes in the teachers’ remuneration much as it is very important.
“It is likely to be a budget which will basically address inflation, meaning that most of our wishes may not be accommodated. But the Government should not forget the human resource factor. They should cushion the teachers from the effects of inflation. Their take-home package should be maintained or improved,†he says.
Semivule says in a private-sector driven economy, “we should be very careful about maintaining a well-fed human resource, otherwise we will have a grave teacher attrition.â€
Education is becoming expensive in public universities, with a number of vice-chancellors claiming the current unit cost, especially in public universities is not realistic.
“As parents, the Government should initiate the students’ loan scheme. We have waited too long for it. I have two daughters who will be joining university next year, and without such a scheme, I will be doomed,†says Mark Mukasa, a taxi operator.
Education is one of the Government’s key sectors, taking close to sh1.4trillion of the national budget. It receives priority in resource allocation.
“Previous allocationsâ€
2010/2011 - sh1.139trillion
2009/2010 - sh1.079trillion
2008/2009 - sh899.3b
2007/2008 - sh900b
2006/2007 - sh720.26b
PUBLIC VIEWS
Prof. Aaron Mukwaya, Senior Lecturer Makerere University
The education sector needs to be planned alongside other sectors because social service provision is interrelated and the Government has a duty to provide this to its people. The problem is how the money is used. The Government needs to have a firm hand in the education sector in order to ensure quality and to ensure schools can start churning out job creators other than liberalising the sector and leaving the role of education provision in the hands of private players. By leaving schools in the hands of private players, the Government has little say in the affairs of those schools. This compromises the quality and the cost of education.
Grace Mukasa, Headteacher, Namirembe Parents School
I expect them to waive taxes on scholastic materials so the prices can go down. I also expect more money allocated to school inspectors to ensure that regular inspection is done in schools so as to improve the quality of education in the country.
Deborah Kyeyune, mother of five
I expect the Government to release pension money to enable us pay school fees. Whenever I go to the public service ministry, the officials say the Government has not yet released the money. I have been suffering to pay fees for my children since my husband died and I expected that the pension money would come in as a relief but nothing has come yet.
Compiled by Chris Kiwawulo
TODAY is budget day; and expectations are high in all sectors. As has been in the past, education is likely to take a big share of the national budget. In 2010/2011, the ministry was allocated sh1.139trillion. This figure is likely to increase.
The increase of capitation for students in free primary (UPE) and secondary education (USE), salary increments and accommodation for teachers, come top on the wish list.
Reduction of taxes on scholastic materials, promotion of teachers, provision of lunch for students by the Government, are the other new moves being craved, by education stakeholders.
University administrators are anticipating an increase in the funding of higher education, and the expansion of public universities to accommodate the growing number of students. The loan scheme promised by the President is also on the priority list. Some issues may be attained while some will not be.
“I would like to see an improvement in the grants they send to UPE and USE schools in the country. I wish these grants are given priority in the new budget,†Rose Izizinga, the chairperson of the national association of secondary school head teachers says.
“I also know there is going to be free A ‘level education in the country but I wish it gets a meaningful budget so that it is successful,†she adds.
She also wishes the Government should increase the salaries, and accommodation for both primary and secondary teachers. She partly attributes absenteeism of teachers to the low pay because the teachers resort to other economic activities to earn more.
A primary school teacher gets slightly over 200,000 after taxation while a graduate secondary school teacher gets about sh400,000.
Her prayers may be partly answered today in the budget reading, since the education and sports permanent secretary, Francis-Xavier Lubanga, says the Government is committed to having the capitation grants for UPE and USE schools increased in the new National Budget.
Lubanga says with the rising inflation and the fact that the Government has taken long without increasing the rates, the education and finance ministries “have now provisions in the new financial year’s budget to increase capitation grants.â€
Today, every child under USE in private schools is allocated sh47,000 per term, while those in the government-aided schools get sh41,000. The aim of the capitation is to increase equitable access to education by removing the burden of parents paying school fees. It also aims to enhance the quality of education by providing schools with resources required to run the school.
Meanwhile, some of the private investors in education, especially foreigners are expecting the Government to reduce taxes on scholastic materials, and taxation of salaries.
Some educationists argue that the high costs of running schools may discourage foreign and local investors from joining the education sector. Turkish Light Academy’s headteacher Hakki Aydim says: “It is becoming complicated and discouraging to invest in the education sector. We need the taxes for foodstuffs and stationery reduced. The Pay As You Earn for teachers should also be reduced.â€
The headteacher of Mengo Secondary School, George William Semivule, says there may not be changes in the teachers’ remuneration much as it is very important.
“It is likely to be a budget which will basically address inflation, meaning that most of our wishes may not be accommodated. But the Government should not forget the human resource factor. They should cushion the teachers from the effects of inflation. Their take-home package should be maintained or improved,†he says.
Semivule says in a private-sector driven economy, “we should be very careful about maintaining a well-fed human resource, otherwise we will have a grave teacher attrition.â€
Education is becoming expensive in public universities, with a number of vice-chancellors claiming the current unit cost, especially in public universities is not realistic.
“As parents, the Government should initiate the students’ loan scheme. We have waited too long for it. I have two daughters who will be joining university next year, and without such a scheme, I will be doomed,†says Mark Mukasa, a taxi operator.
Education is one of the Government’s key sectors, taking close to sh1.4trillion of the national budget. It receives priority in resource allocation.
“Previous allocationsâ€
2010/2011 - sh1.139trillion
2009/2010 - sh1.079trillion
2008/2009 - sh899.3b
2007/2008 - sh900b
2006/2007 - sh720.26b
PUBLIC VIEWS
Prof. Aaron Mukwaya, Senior Lecturer Makerere University
The education sector needs to be planned alongside other sectors because social service provision is interrelated and the Government has a duty to provide this to its people. The problem is how the money is used. The Government needs to have a firm hand in the education sector in order to ensure quality and to ensure schools can start churning out job creators other than liberalising the sector and leaving the role of education provision in the hands of private players. By leaving schools in the hands of private players, the Government has little say in the affairs of those schools. This compromises the quality and the cost of education.
Grace Mukasa, Headteacher, Namirembe Parents School
I expect them to waive taxes on scholastic materials so the prices can go down. I also expect more money allocated to school inspectors to ensure that regular inspection is done in schools so as to improve the quality of education in the country.
Deborah Kyeyune, mother of five
I expect the Government to release pension money to enable us pay school fees. Whenever I go to the public service ministry, the officials say the Government has not yet released the money. I have been suffering to pay fees for my children since my husband died and I expected that the pension money would come in as a relief but nothing has come yet.
Compiled by Chris Kiwawulo