The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Luwero, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Luwero District Council has unanimously condemned the move by the Equal Opportunity Commission to summon and grill head teachers for levying fees in government schools.
On 3rd October, the Equal Opportunity Commission summoned headteachers of 50 schools from Luwero government-aided schools together with District Education Officials and grilled them for charging illegal fees from parents.
The schools charge between 40,000 and 90,000 shillings to cater for lunch, development, fees for foundation bodies and tours among others. The EOC denounced the fees saying they scare away parents from enrolling their children in schools where the government insists that education must be free for all.
The Commission said the head teachers found culpable after the investigations will be charged with the marginalization of the poor and denying them education contrary to provisions in the EOC Act 2007.
But the District Councillors and LCV Chairman blasted the Equal Opportunity Commission accusing it of sabotaging the education performance in the area.
Ahmed Kasibante the District Councillor for Busiika town council said that fees are affordable and were passed by the majority of the parents through the Parents Teachers’ Association.
Kasibante said that lunch is necessary not only for adults but also for learners if they are to grasp what they are taught.
Kasibante said that instead of EOC grilling headteachers for nothing, they should interact with parents and local leaders to appreciate the rationale behind fees charged in the schools.
Victor Nabukenya the Chairperson of the District Education Committee said that because parents can no longer pack food for their children, the parents agreed with headteachers to prepare food at schools and serve the learners hot food as lunch to enable them to concentrate in the afternoon classes.
Nabukenya added that the current capitation grant doesn’t provide lunch to learners and cater for all things hence the need to charge a small fee to address such gaps.
Nabukenya said that instead of focusing on minor issues, the Commission should be authoring reports on how the government marginalizes learners by failing to construct classrooms, and toilets, failing to recruit teachers and offering sanitary pads to girls among others.
Erastus Kibirango the LCV Chairman of Luwero District said that there is no illegality if parents consent and contribute little money to feed their children.
Kibirango says that as a result, they have resolved to strengthen the parents by ordering the Education Committee to introduce a resolution in the council that will streamline the fees to be paid across the government schools to avoid exploitation by some headteachers.
Kibirango said the government policy that parents shouldn’t pay anything including lunch fees is unacceptable in the district.
Richard Bwabye, the Luwero Resident District Commissioner said that President Museveni’s directive is clear that no learners should be chased away from the school for failing to pay the fees as is the case in some government schools.
Bwabye added that some fees set by schools are exploitative and should be regulated by the district.
While gracing the Annual Mothers’ Union Conference for Buganda Region in Luwero town council in August this year, President Yoweri Museveni and First Lady Janet Museveni insisted that education is free in Universal Education schools.
Education and Sports Minister Janet Museveni reiterated her advice to parents to pack food for their children at school which can include eggs among others.
President Museveni reiterated the same during his birthday celebrations held at Kijjaguzo Parish in Semuto town council in Nakaseke in September this year.
He however noted parents are supposed to provide lunch, uniforms and scholastic materials for their children as the government strive to offer free education.
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