Jimmy Nambiro the head of the education desk in state house also private secretary in-charge of education and skilling has warned that illegal charges in Universal Primary Education and Universal Secondary Education schools are denying many Ugandan children their constitutional right to free education.
Nambiro said that hidden school charges continue to undermine access to education, particularly for children from poor and vulnerable households.
The state house education desk found that although UPE and USE are government-funded programmes, many schools continue to charge parents unauthorized fees, effectively locking out children whose families cannot afford them. According to the report, investigations by the Commission found that some UPE schools charge parents tens of thousands of shillings and, in some cases, as much as 150,000 shillings per child each term, despite the programme being officially free.
The report also found that many USE schools charge between 80,000 and more than 360,000 shillings per learner each term, creating a significant financial burden for low-income families.
Mr.Nambiro questioned why schools that already receive government funding for teachers’ salaries, infrastructure and instructional materials continue to impose fees on parents.
“We must make education completely free and compulsory for all Ugandans because education is the greatest equalizer,” he said.
The findings echo concerns repeatedly raised by President Yoweri Museveni, who has consistently criticised government schools for imposing illegal charges under the UPE and USE programmes.
The President has argued that the practice defeats the purpose of universal education by excluding children from poor families.
In recent tour of minister of local government Honorable Hon Barugahara Balaam Ateenyi and his counterpart Hon.Justine Nameere , several head teachers in government schools were arrested due to collecting unauthorized fees, following directives from the President to enforce the government’s free education policy.
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