Govt stops fees increase in schools
Apr 24, 2011
THE Government has stopped private and government-aided schools from increasing fees next term.
By Conan Businge and Elizabeth Agiro
THE Government has stopped private and government-aided schools from increasing fees next term.
“None of the schools that have signalled the intention to raise fees sought approval of the education and sports minister, which renders their notice to parents null and void,†a statement issued on Saturday by information minister Kabakumba Masiko warned.
A number of schools New Vision talked to had revised their fees structure upwards, arguing that it was necessary if they were to maintain the standards for pupils and students, following an increase in fuel and food prices.
Others, however, chose to keep their fees constant, pending revision if the situation continued.
While most schools which increased their fees did so by a margin of about sh10,000 to sh30,000, there was one extreme case where a school in Lira hiked its fees from sh50,000 to sh120,000.
Most of the head teachers argue that it is very expensive to effectively run a school without increasing fees since the cost of living has shot up.
The Government says section 9 of the Education Act prohibits levying any charges for purposes of education in any primary or post primary institution implementing the Universal Primary Education, Uganda Post-primary Education and Training or the Universal Secondary Education programmes.
Contravention of the law attracts a fine of sh1m, imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or both.â€
“Even for government schools which are not participating in free education and the private schools whose management committees are established in accordance with the second and third schedules of this Act, fees payable by pupils/students is prescribed (and or approved) by the minister,†added the statement.
“In the case of private schools, section 44 provides that the school owner may charge such school dues as the management committee or board of governors may prescribe from time to time.â€
However, the Government says the law immediately adds that the minister or district education officer may, from time to time, issue instructions to school owners on aspects of management of schools.
This, government says, is with a view to safeguarding the interests of the pupils and every school shall comply with such instructions.
The Government said increment of fees in schools with free education did not even arise since there were no costs associated with accommodation or feeding of students.
Government is paying a little higher for students enrolled under the public-private partnership arrangement to take care of the additional costs incurred by these schools.
Some of the schools New Vision talked to after the directive declined to comment.
However, before the directive, schools had told New Vision that the increase in fuel prices meant they, too, spent more, especially on meals and transport.
At Kisoro High School, there were ongoing discussions about a possible increment. “We are likely to increase. We are having a meeting with parents to decide. We might think about raising fees by sh30,000 with effect from next term,†said David Rwarinda, the head teacher.
Students are now paying sh172,000 for boarding and sh120,000 for day scholars.
“The students are also affected in their homes. The prices of foodstuffs have really gone up,†Rwarinda added.
Nkumba Model School had planned to have its pupils pay sh240,000 for the boarding section, up from sh200,000, while day scholars were to pay sh100,000, up from sh70,000. The head teacher, Michael Makanya, blamed this on the increased prices for commodities.
THE Government has stopped private and government-aided schools from increasing fees next term.
“None of the schools that have signalled the intention to raise fees sought approval of the education and sports minister, which renders their notice to parents null and void,†a statement issued on Saturday by information minister Kabakumba Masiko warned.
A number of schools New Vision talked to had revised their fees structure upwards, arguing that it was necessary if they were to maintain the standards for pupils and students, following an increase in fuel and food prices.
Others, however, chose to keep their fees constant, pending revision if the situation continued.
While most schools which increased their fees did so by a margin of about sh10,000 to sh30,000, there was one extreme case where a school in Lira hiked its fees from sh50,000 to sh120,000.
Most of the head teachers argue that it is very expensive to effectively run a school without increasing fees since the cost of living has shot up.
The Government says section 9 of the Education Act prohibits levying any charges for purposes of education in any primary or post primary institution implementing the Universal Primary Education, Uganda Post-primary Education and Training or the Universal Secondary Education programmes.
Contravention of the law attracts a fine of sh1m, imprisonment not exceeding twelve months or both.â€
“Even for government schools which are not participating in free education and the private schools whose management committees are established in accordance with the second and third schedules of this Act, fees payable by pupils/students is prescribed (and or approved) by the minister,†added the statement.
“In the case of private schools, section 44 provides that the school owner may charge such school dues as the management committee or board of governors may prescribe from time to time.â€
However, the Government says the law immediately adds that the minister or district education officer may, from time to time, issue instructions to school owners on aspects of management of schools.
This, government says, is with a view to safeguarding the interests of the pupils and every school shall comply with such instructions.
The Government said increment of fees in schools with free education did not even arise since there were no costs associated with accommodation or feeding of students.
Government is paying a little higher for students enrolled under the public-private partnership arrangement to take care of the additional costs incurred by these schools.
Some of the schools New Vision talked to after the directive declined to comment.
However, before the directive, schools had told New Vision that the increase in fuel prices meant they, too, spent more, especially on meals and transport.
At Kisoro High School, there were ongoing discussions about a possible increment. “We are likely to increase. We are having a meeting with parents to decide. We might think about raising fees by sh30,000 with effect from next term,†said David Rwarinda, the head teacher.
Students are now paying sh172,000 for boarding and sh120,000 for day scholars.
“The students are also affected in their homes. The prices of foodstuffs have really gone up,†Rwarinda added.
Nkumba Model School had planned to have its pupils pay sh240,000 for the boarding section, up from sh200,000, while day scholars were to pay sh100,000, up from sh70,000. The head teacher, Michael Makanya, blamed this on the increased prices for commodities.