GOVERNMENT REGULATING SCHOOL FEES NEXT TERM (2023) IS NOT FEASIBLE THOUGH WOULD BE DESIRED

The equal opportunities commission has asked the government to regulate the amount of school fees charged by the government and government-aided Schools starting in the next academic year. #NTVNews

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IT IS TRUE, SCHOOL FEES HAVE BEEN INCREASED, BUT MANY TALK WITHOUT HAVING THE FACTS.

For the 4 years I attended my Ordinary level at St. Mary’s College, Kisubi the School fees was shs 650 a year.

There are many factors one needs to understand as he or she gets to discuss fees in Schools today.

Many Schools today are businesses. The private schools are far more than the Government aided schools. The population in Uganda has grown so much since 1986 such that the private schools became absolutely a necessary development to bridge the gap. The parents who have money look for two things in a school where they are to take their children: The grades by the School in the UNEB Exams, the existing school infrastructure. You will find that many schools have staff who are not paid by Government when the school is Government aided. Those staff who are not on the Government payroll are paid out of what parents pay under PTA. It is also true that such schools have to keep constructing to have worthy infrastructure. We are aware of the inflation in Uganda. Schools have to buy from the open market whatever they use, and staff need an increase in pay as incentive to deliver. The schools where parents want quality and grades have inevitably to increase what parents pay.

Many times we discuss matters concerning fees as if all schools have uniformity. It is also true that given the status of some of these schools, parents agree in advance to pay increased fees given the school challenges.

It is wrong to imagine that the Ministry of Education should come and put a limit to the fees the parents have to pay. What remains relevant if done is for the schools to inform the Ministry of Education their fee structure and the justification.

We should agree that there are categories of schools with various status. The parents should choose schools that fit their income instead of agitating for uniformity because it cannot work.

I have had opportunity to get to understand the challenges from one of the schools many parents would wish their children to go to so I am writing from what is actually on ground.