By Spy Uganda
The Ministry of Education has warned public and private schools with sanctions for not adhering to the directive restricting tuition increment for this first term.
The government of Uganda re-opened all education institutions for Pre-Primary, Primary and Secondary Schools on Monday 10h January 2022.
Previously the Minister of Education and Sports Janet Museveni directed that all schools should maintain fees at the level of term 1 2020 but some schools have since trashed her directives and continued to squeeze COVID hit parents to pay millions as fees.
”Ministry of Education and Sports has noted that a number of schools especially Boarding Secondary Schools have increased fees dubbed as Top Up’ in total defiance of the directive issued by the Minister of Education and Sports and contrary to the guidelines issued,” says Ministry.
The Ministry’s circular issued to all school chairpersons, directors and management, schools disguises the increment of fees under a variety of semantics warning headteachers that they will personally be held accountable for such.
”Be further informed that headteachers failing to observe guidance given in this circular will be held personally responsible for any eventuality arising from their inaction,” Ministry warns.
Now Ministry has directed school authorities to ensure that;
(a) The directive issued by the Minister of Education and Sports as part of re-opening of schools that all schools maintain the school fees at the level of Term 1 2020 MUST be adhered to.
(b) For schools where the parents have already paid the “Top-up fees; the charges should be rolled over to the subsequent terms in the academic year 2022, as pre-paid fees. I will require all headteachers of the schools affected to issue a circular to all parents communicating the new developments in any case not later than 17th January 2022.
(c) All Headteachers of schools charging “Top Up’ fees are required to conduct Board of Governors Special Meetings to review their budget estimates and work plans for the academic year 2022 and follow due process.
(d) All schools MUST within the first six (06) weeks from the date of opening (10h January 2022) convene a Parents General Meeting to discuss the Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures and the fees structure for term 2 and term 3 for the academic year 2022.
(e) Headteachers are further reminded to re-prioritize their expenditures during Term 1 2022 and stay the implementation of Capital Development Projects.
(f) Schools that have specific and unique issues relating to fee charges are required to follow the laid down procedures as prescribed in earlier circulars on school charges.
”Please note that failure to adhere to the directives issued by the Minister of Education and Sports and the guidance issued through this circular will leave me with no other option but to take disciplinary action on errant school authorities,” adds Ministry.
