Over sh7b for free secondary education delayed
Apr 06, 2009
OVER sh7b meant for schools under the the universal secondary education (USE) programme has been delayed.
By Fortunate Ahimbisibwe
OVER sh7b meant for schools under the the universal secondary education (USE) programme has been delayed.
A source said the money is required to pay fees for over 170,000 students who were enrolled in Senior One this year.
This holdup has financially strained over 700 schools implementing the programme.
Head teachers recently said the Government had not released the funds yet the First Term was coming to an end. “We have been strained because we have not received the money since the term opened. How can we keep the students in school without funding?†a head teacher asked.
The commissioner for secondary education, John Agaba, on Friday said the ministry had only released money for students in Senior Two and Three, who were studying in private schools.
He said the finance ministry had not provided funds for Senior One students.
The Government releases money on a quarterly basis.
“The money for Senior One students will be released before the end of the term,†Agaba said.
The Government pays sh41,000 for each student in a government-aided school and sh47,000 for those in private schools.
The Government also gives sh5m per term to each private school implementing the programme.
The education ministry needs over sh1.7b for private schools implementing the programme.
An official at the ministry said they were waiting for the results of the just-concluded head count, which would guide them in releasing the funds.
The Government carried out a head count last month to verify the eligibility of students enrolled under the programme.
OVER sh7b meant for schools under the the universal secondary education (USE) programme has been delayed.
A source said the money is required to pay fees for over 170,000 students who were enrolled in Senior One this year.
This holdup has financially strained over 700 schools implementing the programme.
Head teachers recently said the Government had not released the funds yet the First Term was coming to an end. “We have been strained because we have not received the money since the term opened. How can we keep the students in school without funding?†a head teacher asked.
The commissioner for secondary education, John Agaba, on Friday said the ministry had only released money for students in Senior Two and Three, who were studying in private schools.
He said the finance ministry had not provided funds for Senior One students.
The Government releases money on a quarterly basis.
“The money for Senior One students will be released before the end of the term,†Agaba said.
The Government pays sh41,000 for each student in a government-aided school and sh47,000 for those in private schools.
The Government also gives sh5m per term to each private school implementing the programme.
The education ministry needs over sh1.7b for private schools implementing the programme.
An official at the ministry said they were waiting for the results of the just-concluded head count, which would guide them in releasing the funds.
The Government carried out a head count last month to verify the eligibility of students enrolled under the programme.