This article was first published in the New Vision website on April 10, 2023
By Mary Karugaba & John Odyek
Ministers have explained to Parliament that although Cabinet has discussed the issue of fees payment in various government-aided schools, no final decision has been reached so far.
Although education in both government-aided primary and secondary schools is supposed to be free, many schools have been illegally asking parents to contribute some money, saying what the Government is providing is not sufficient.
While communicating the Cabinet decisions last month, primary education state minister Joyce Kaducu said they had resolved to put more resources in government-aided schools (both primary and secondary) so that students can be able to study without hindrances.
Accordingly, Cabinet called for an end to all ‘small’ payments parents have been making.
Kaducu explained that recently, schools, mostly government-aided ones, have been imposing unnecessary charges on learners such as funds for food and payments to non-teaching staff.
“It has been approved that it is the obligation of parents to feed the learners and the method of feeding the learners that we have approved is through packing food.
“So, we are sensitising the parents that we need to use all possible modalities to see how best we can pack food for the learners. The issue of contributing money for food in kind has not been approved and we are discouraging those methods,” she said.
During the plenary on April 5, 2023, MPs tasked the education ministry to explain the controversy surrounding the small payments parents have been making in government-aided schools.
Joseph Ssewungu (Kalungu West) challenged the minister of education to explain the matter and indicate whether the money has already been catered for in the 2023/24 budget.
“When Universal Primary Education (UPE) started in 1997, the Government allowed particular schools, especially those in municipalities, to charge some money. Children from Primary One to Primary Three have been paying sh18,000 and those in Primary Four to Primary Seven have been paying sh24,400. This money was meant to cater for the teachers’ accommodation, electricity, water and other utilities,” Ssewungu said.
“Surprisingly, while at the Uganda Media Centre, the minister said the Government plans to stop all small payments by parents. If this is what Cabinet has approved, we want to know from the Government. Where is this money going to come from and whether Parliament has already been briefed about the changes,” he added.
None of the ministers in the education ministry was in the House, but Government Chief Whip Denis Obua said the matter was discussed in Cabinet but no final decision was reached.
“This issue is not yet concluded. The ministry of education brought it to Cabinet and it is a matter we are yet to give a final position on. Once that is done, the ministry will be in position to come and explain to the public the final decision,” he said.
Deputy Attorney General Jackson Karugaba Kafuuzi said as a policy organ, once Cabinet approves the decision, it is embedded in the budget.
“There is no reason for Ssewungu to preemptively be worried about the matter. Let him wait until it comes here for debate,” he said.
Minister for Information, Technology and National Guidance Dr Chris Baryomunsi said the education minister presented the matter in Cabinet and expressed concern that when UPE and USE were introduced, they were free but for various reasons, along the way, parents have been paying extra fees.
“We want it free and compulsory. But we plan that if the decision is implemented, it will start in 2024/25. Let us wait until the Cabinet makes a final decision,” Baryomunsi said.
Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa, who chaired the House, tasked the minister of education with making a comprehensive statement on the matter next week. He also asked the committee on education to follow it up and then brief the House.
This story appeared in New Vision of April 6, 2023
