President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has severally expressed his concern about schools under the Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education program not charging fees to the pupils and students.
The President attaches his concern to the increasing school drop-out levels, especially in rural settings communities. He believes that his poor citizens cannot afford to raise such fees and even if pupils or students have no uniform, should be permitted to study.
Yesterday, the Office of the National chairman coordinators in Greater Bushenyi Ms. Kansiime Peace and Mr. Beine Edmond visited Kyakuhanda primary school in Nyakashaka T/C to check on the status of service delivery.
Schools have just resumed their second term nearing the conclusion of the year as per the education calendar.
Despite the turn-up having been low at the time of their visit, Kyakuhanda primary school has an enrollment of 309 pupils. The school gets the support of Ugx 1,760,125 per term from the Central Government through Buhweju District Local Government and the Head Teacher Mrs. Kyomugisha Joseline acknowledges its receipt.
The ONC coordinator Ms. Kansiime Peace emphasized to the HeadTeacher about the President’s stand to not levy fees on the pupils since it hinders them to attend school due to poverty. “The low turn-up must be attributed to the worry of raising the Ugx 35000 charged as development fees,” remarked Ms.Peace.
The Head Teacher assured the coordinators that, the Ugx 35000 was a PTA resolution to enable the school to attend to some of its challenges. The school has no staff quarters and limited classrooms which the district has failed to address despite continuous engagement for over a long period.
The Buhweju District Education Officer Ms. Tusiime Beatrice who the ONC coordinators talked to on the telephone, confirmed the challenges to the school to be true but as the district, they are constrained with funds to mitigate the situation.
Ensuring the delivery of quality and affordable education services is part of the key promises of the National Resistance Movement in the 2021-2026 Manifesto to build a resilient labor force and better citizenry that is skilled and free from illiteracy.
Reported by; ONC Online Media
