Schools closed off for the first term on Thursday ahead of the Easter Holiday. PHOTO BY JOSEPH KIGGUNDU.
Parents across the country will have to dig deeper into their pockets as several schools announced increments in school fees for the next term to cater for the rising cost of food and other commodities.
Parents across the country will have to dig deeper into their pockets as several schools announced increments in school fees for the next term to cater for the rising cost of food and other commodities.
In circulars sent to parents at the close of the school term between Wednesday and Friday, many schools say the increasing cost of living, especially food prices have prompted the adjustments. A survey by Saturday Monitor indicates across the board increments in secondary, primary, public and private schools. The increment is also spread between urban and rural schools alike.
Some of the head teachers this paper talked to argued that a 100 Kg sack of maize flour (posho), a major staple in schools which initially cost Shs70,000 has doubled in the course of the first term causing some schools to break off with debts.
The fees adjustments vary in the different schools from Shs15,000 to Shs50,000. For example, at Bishop Cipriano Kihangire SS Biina in Luzira, each student will pay Shs620,000 next term from last terms Shs590,000, indicating a Shs30,000 increment, while students who study at Royal College, Makindye, are required to report with Shs400,000 from Shs350,000 paid last term, an increment of Shs50,000. Ntungamo High School head teacher, Mr Wilson Byamukama, yesterday said the fees structure for next term was increased by Shs15,000 because prices of scholastic materials like chalk, paper and food have gone up.
Sympathetic
“We know parents don’t have money. But what can we do? We have closed the term with a deficit because our budget more than doubled. We used to buy a 100-kilogramme bag of beans at Shs100,000 but now it is Shs140,000, while a 100-kilogramme bag of posho now costs us Shs140,000 from Shs70,000,” Mr Byamukama said. However, it is not yet clear how schools implementing government’s free education programmes will cope with the inflation now reported at 11 per cent. Ministry of Education officials told Saturday Monitor government was aware of the situation and was searching for mitigation measures.
“We know parents don’t have money. But what can we do? We have closed the term with a deficit because our budget more than doubled. We used to buy a 100-kilogramme bag of beans at Shs100,000 but now it is Shs140,000, while a 100-kilogramme bag of posho now costs us Shs140,000 from Shs70,000,” Mr Byamukama said. However, it is not yet clear how schools implementing government’s free education programmes will cope with the inflation now reported at 11 per cent. Ministry of Education officials told Saturday Monitor government was aware of the situation and was searching for mitigation measures.
Government pays each school Shs41,000 per child per term in schools implementing government programmes, while Shs47,000 is given for each child attending a USE partner private school. Commissioner for Secondary Education, Mr Francis Agula, said the ministry has in their budget review asked the Ministry of Finance for an increment of the USE funds to help schools balance their daily expenditures with the inflation rate. “Our money is constant and this is a challenge. It needs a review because schools have to work within the allocation even when the prices are going up. However, in our 2011/2012 budget, there is some provision for an increment,” Mr Agula said.
Parliament has been scrutinising budget proposals for various departments. The 2011/2012 budget is to be announced in June. He said although the proposed increment (between three and five per cent) of USE budget allocations is not relative to the inflation rate, it will address some the challenge to some degree.
Parents cry out
Parents said they find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. They are already feeling the pressure of feeding themselves and their families, but now the extra fees burden will make it even harder. Ms Margret Zawedde, who pays fees for two daughters in schools in Butambala District, said the increment was an added burden to parents who are already paying through the nose for almost every household necessity.
Parents said they find themselves caught between a rock and a hard place. They are already feeling the pressure of feeding themselves and their families, but now the extra fees burden will make it even harder. Ms Margret Zawedde, who pays fees for two daughters in schools in Butambala District, said the increment was an added burden to parents who are already paying through the nose for almost every household necessity.
Inflation
“I am a widow and I don’t know where I will get that money. I am already finding it hard to buy what I need at home and with that increment in fees I don’t know what I am going to do,” said Ms Zawedde, a vendor in Owino Market. She said one of her daughters will next term pay Shs400,000 up from Shs360,000, while the other one, who has been paying Shs500,000 will now require Shs530,000, beside personal effects that they need to be in school with.
Mr Abdul Ssekabira , the education officer for Mubende District, said the increment was justifiable since there is a general rise in commodity prices. “I am a parent and I feel the pinch but there is nothing to do since the schools buy in the same markets where we go,” he said. He said despite living in a village, a bunch of matooke currently goes for Shs17,000 up from Shs8,000 it used to cost four months ago. A box of school chalk, according to Mr Ssekabira, costs Shs50,000 up from Shs25,000 not long ago.
“I am a widow and I don’t know where I will get that money. I am already finding it hard to buy what I need at home and with that increment in fees I don’t know what I am going to do,” said Ms Zawedde, a vendor in Owino Market. She said one of her daughters will next term pay Shs400,000 up from Shs360,000, while the other one, who has been paying Shs500,000 will now require Shs530,000, beside personal effects that they need to be in school with.
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