Parliament has directed the Ministry of Education and Sports to present a statutory instrument to regulate school fees increments across the country.
During a Parliamentary sitting on Tuesday, 17 January 2023, the Rt Hon. Speaker Anita Among who raised concern about attempts by different schools to increase school fees said the decision is inappropriate and contrary to the previous circulars issued by the Education Ministry.
“This is in breach of the various previous circulars issued by the Ministry barring schools from arbitrary school fees increment, notably the circulars of November 2017 and 2022,” Among said.
“Any such school fees increment will be in total disregard of the prevailing socio-economic realities. As such, I call upon gov’t to prudently exercise its regulatory role in ensuring that no such arbitrary school fees increments are effected,” she added.
The Speaker’s submission came after legislators moved a motion seeking a resolution of Parliament to address the problem of government and private schools charging learners exorbitant fees.
The MPs also brought attention to the widening inequality in education institutions throughout the country.
“It is not just about school fees; we need to have equity in this country. Why should we have government-aided schools and some schools established by certain institutions, with government paying teachers, but they still charge fees higher than a university,” Hon. Sarah Opendi the Tororo District Woman Representative said.
In response to this however, Speaker Among referred the matter to the Committee of Education and Sport to investigate and make appropriate recommendations to government for consideration.
Hon. Cuthbert Abigaba, the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Education and Sports however, replied saying that the draft report is ready pending a review meeting on 24 January 2023 before the final report is tabled for adoption and subsequent debate.