WARNING TO SCHOOL BOSSES: Increase School Fees at Your Own Risk

Heads of schools who defy the Ministry of Education and Sports’ directive against school fees increment may find themselves in trouble with the first lady Janet Museveni-led ministry.

When she recently released the revised school calendar for 2022 during the closing ceremony of the Education Ministry Sector Performance Review at the Kololo Independence Grounds in Kampala, Minister Ms Museveni warned headteachers and principals against school fees increment.

Ugandan schools are set to reopen on January 10.

Most schools, especially private ones, always hike fees at the start of a new academic year.

But at a recent event held at Isbat University in Kampala, State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo emphasized Ms Museveni’s directive.

Mininister Muyingo noted that all Ugandans had suffered the brunt of the Covid19 pandemic and that it would be unfair to add an extra burden on parents most of whom are already struggling financially.

The Minister likened any increment of fees to exploitation.

“We should not take advantage of the current situation to exploit parents. We are not expecting any school fees to increase,” said the minister at the institution’s recent graduation ceremony.

“Nobody should be asked to pay beyond what was approved by the board of governors.”

Muyingo warned that the Ms Museveni-led ministry would not tolerate any fees increments that burden parents.

As such, all proposals by boards of governors to increase fees must be approved by Ketty Lamaro, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports.

Schools whose boards have approved fees increments are required to send copies of minutes of the meetings where the decisions were reached and approved.

It is PS Lamaro who will then make the final decision on the board’s proposal.

Minister Muyingo also encouraged parents and guardians to reports all school heads who have increased schools to the Ministry of Education.

Additional Reporting: Courtesy