Museveni warns schools against forced lunch fees
Jun 28, 2007
CHILDREN under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme should not be forced to pay for lunch, President Yoweri Museveni said on Wednesday. It should be voluntary for those who can afford to pay, he added.
By Eddie Ssejjoba
in Masaka
CHILDREN under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme should not be forced to pay for lunch, President Yoweri Museveni said on Wednesday. It should be voluntary for those who can afford to pay, he added.
“This must stop, and if I hear again of any teacher forcing pupils to pay for lunch I will direct for his arrest,†he said to applause from pupils and parents.
He also warned schools against charging money for construction, textbooks for teachers and for laboratory equipment. It is the Government’s role to pay for teachers, build classrooms and laboratories and provide textbooks. He announced that Parliament would enact a law on the matter.
The President was on Wednesday addressing the public at Uganda Martyrs’ Primary School, Buyoga in Bukomansimbi during his tour of Masaka district.
“The parent’s role should stop at dressing up the child, providing packed food, exercise books and a pen or pencil,†he stressed.
By levying illegal fees and harassing those who cannot pay, he said, the education officials and teachers were sabotaging the UPE programme.
He said he was moved by reports that some teachers in Busoga were sending away pupils for not paying lunch fees.
Encouraging parents to pack food for their children, he noted: “I grew up eating mawolu (packed food) and studied up to university. I do not believe in arguments that packed food can be poisonous.â€
Museveni also blamed some farmers in Bukomansimbi for drying their coffee on bare ground, which he said affects its quality. He advised them to use tarpaulins (tundubaali) to avoid mixing coffee with stones and dust.
“I will come back here in September with my camera and take photos of you drying your coffee on bare grounds and produce them in Bukedde so that the entire country knows that you are the people spoiling the quality of our coffee.â€
When the residents said they could not afford the facilities, he promised to ask the National Agricultural Advisory Services to assist them.
in Masaka
CHILDREN under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme should not be forced to pay for lunch, President Yoweri Museveni said on Wednesday. It should be voluntary for those who can afford to pay, he added.
“This must stop, and if I hear again of any teacher forcing pupils to pay for lunch I will direct for his arrest,†he said to applause from pupils and parents.
He also warned schools against charging money for construction, textbooks for teachers and for laboratory equipment. It is the Government’s role to pay for teachers, build classrooms and laboratories and provide textbooks. He announced that Parliament would enact a law on the matter.
The President was on Wednesday addressing the public at Uganda Martyrs’ Primary School, Buyoga in Bukomansimbi during his tour of Masaka district.
“The parent’s role should stop at dressing up the child, providing packed food, exercise books and a pen or pencil,†he stressed.
By levying illegal fees and harassing those who cannot pay, he said, the education officials and teachers were sabotaging the UPE programme.
He said he was moved by reports that some teachers in Busoga were sending away pupils for not paying lunch fees.
Encouraging parents to pack food for their children, he noted: “I grew up eating mawolu (packed food) and studied up to university. I do not believe in arguments that packed food can be poisonous.â€
Museveni also blamed some farmers in Bukomansimbi for drying their coffee on bare ground, which he said affects its quality. He advised them to use tarpaulins (tundubaali) to avoid mixing coffee with stones and dust.
“I will come back here in September with my camera and take photos of you drying your coffee on bare grounds and produce them in Bukedde so that the entire country knows that you are the people spoiling the quality of our coffee.â€
When the residents said they could not afford the facilities, he promised to ask the National Agricultural Advisory Services to assist them.