In response to mounting public outcry over skyrocketing school fees, the government has taken decisive action, announcing stringent measures effective from the second term of the 2024 academic year to curb excessive fee hikes.
Dr. Joyce Kaducu, the state minister for primary education, delivered a firm message, stating that the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) is currently finalizing a statutory instrument aimed at enforcing adherence to fee guidelines. Non-compliant private schools will face closure as a consequence.
The government’s initiative involves regulating 12 specific items, endorsed by the cabinet, which schools must exclude from their fee structures. These items encompass charges related to infrastructure development, as well as activities conducted by the board and Parents’ Teachers’ Association (PTA).
Speaking at a press briefing following a comprehensive S5 selection exercise, Dr. Kaducu emphasized the need for strict enforcement to address concerns raised by parents regarding exorbitant fee increments.
This intervention is aligned with the government’s commitment to provide free and compulsory Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Primary Education (UPE), as reiterated by Education Minister Janet Museveni during the release of the 2023 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination results.
Debora Basekanakyo, deputy chairperson of the Association of Secondary School Head Teachers of Uganda (ASSHU), shed light on the challenges faced by schools, including the need to raise fees to compensate non-government-paid teachers and address staffing shortages.
Despite the government’s efforts to ensure equitable access to education, concerns persist over staffing gaps and teacher welfare. The ongoing selection exercise seeks to place over 236,280 learners in both government-aided and private secondary schools offering the A’ Level curriculum.
Dr. Jane Egau, undersecretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports, urged head teachers to uphold integrity and fairness in admitting students from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing the importance of inclusivity in the education sector.
