Free secondary education plan released
Sep 23, 2006
OVER 430,000 pupils will benefit from the universal post-primary education and training (UPPET), which has been approved by Cabinet.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
OVER 430,000 pupils will benefit from the universal post-primary education and training (UPPET), which has been approved by Cabinet.
According to the policy document prepared by the UPPET Implementation Secretariat, pupils who score aggregate 4 to 32 will be eligible join any of the 844 government-aided secondary schools.
But students will repeat classes at their own cost, the statement, released yesterday, said.
“The expected beneficiaries are 432,218 pupils. These are the children who registered for PLE for the year 2006. UPPET will cover non-boarding expenses for students enrolling in deserving government-aided schools,†the statement added.
Education minister Namirembe Bitamazire said implementation starts next year.
UPPET will be voluntary in the initial stages.
“We are making the necessary arrangements for implementation of the policy. But we are yet to tell the public what it entails. But I can comfortably say that everything is in the final stages,†she said.
“The recommended class size is 60 students per stream. Repeaters have no place in the UPPET programme,†a ministry of education official explained yesterday.
Last year, only about 50% of the pupils who completed P7 accessed post-primary education.
The Government will also provide bursaries to students who enroll in senior one in selected private schools in the 271 sub- counties that do not have any government secondary school.
“Parents shall provide lunch, uniform, stationary and medical care. Government will provide basic instructional materials and basic equipment,†the statement said.
The UPPET policy is to enhance sustainability of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and reduce the cost of post-primary education.
“Government has only 844 secondary schools. There are 271 sub-counties without government schools. UPPET will target pupils who will complete P7 in the school year 2006,†the statements said.
In areas where the numbers are very high, the ministry has proposed double shifts.
The government will also be strict on schools against charging more than sh75,000 per term per student.
Schools which charge above this will not be allowed to participate in the UPPET programme.
The Government will pay sh700,000 to the schools per term and a variable tuition fee of sh29,420 per student per term.
OVER 430,000 pupils will benefit from the universal post-primary education and training (UPPET), which has been approved by Cabinet.
According to the policy document prepared by the UPPET Implementation Secretariat, pupils who score aggregate 4 to 32 will be eligible join any of the 844 government-aided secondary schools.
But students will repeat classes at their own cost, the statement, released yesterday, said.
“The expected beneficiaries are 432,218 pupils. These are the children who registered for PLE for the year 2006. UPPET will cover non-boarding expenses for students enrolling in deserving government-aided schools,†the statement added.
Education minister Namirembe Bitamazire said implementation starts next year.
UPPET will be voluntary in the initial stages.
“We are making the necessary arrangements for implementation of the policy. But we are yet to tell the public what it entails. But I can comfortably say that everything is in the final stages,†she said.
“The recommended class size is 60 students per stream. Repeaters have no place in the UPPET programme,†a ministry of education official explained yesterday.
Last year, only about 50% of the pupils who completed P7 accessed post-primary education.
The Government will also provide bursaries to students who enroll in senior one in selected private schools in the 271 sub- counties that do not have any government secondary school.
“Parents shall provide lunch, uniform, stationary and medical care. Government will provide basic instructional materials and basic equipment,†the statement said.
The UPPET policy is to enhance sustainability of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and reduce the cost of post-primary education.
“Government has only 844 secondary schools. There are 271 sub-counties without government schools. UPPET will target pupils who will complete P7 in the school year 2006,†the statements said.
In areas where the numbers are very high, the ministry has proposed double shifts.
The government will also be strict on schools against charging more than sh75,000 per term per student.
Schools which charge above this will not be allowed to participate in the UPPET programme.
The Government will pay sh700,000 to the schools per term and a variable tuition fee of sh29,420 per student per term.