The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Kasese, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A section of private school administrators in Kasese and Bunyangabu districts have cried out for financial assistance from the government to aid schools and other educational institutions to deal with the rising operational costs.
The administrators argue that the high costs of essential commodities including food and laundry items are set to cripple their operational standards. They argue that the two-year closure of the institutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic has also crippled their ability to continue serving the local population effectively.
Many of the administrators also revealed to URN that they are financing huge loans acquired to facilitate their re-opening in January. Francis Kwehayo, the director of St. Francis Secondary in Rughedabara town council, says that it has been hard for private education institutions to mobilise funds from parents who are also struggling to live amidst the rising costs of living.
He says that it’s time for the government to recognise the fact that private institutions cater for the majority of the educational needs of the country, a reason that they should be supported to survive.
Kwehayo says most of the parents are sending back their children to school without fully paying fees because they are also financially crippled.
Lamulat Nakacwa Muzamil, the Director of Nyakasanga Infant school in Kasese town, says that the school will later discuss with parents how they can also contribute in-kind to keep the school running. She urges the government to urgently consider financially supporting private schools, especially in the upcountry areas for the betterment of the education sector.
Willy Mugisa, the Director of Rwimi Parents primary school, says it has been tough to re-open for the new term because prices of all the basic school materials including chalk have increased. He asks the government to recognize the fundamental role private schools play in supporting the education sector and offer them financial assistance when things seem tough.
Mugisha adds that even banks are now hesitant to give out additional loans and top-ups to schools following the uncertainty surrounding their operations. He says that the school has not increased school fees at the moment but couldn’t rule out that possibility if the current situation doesn’t change.
At Wisdom High School in Rwimi Bunyangabu district, the school headteacher Peter Mwesigwa, says the school could not consider increasing fees because it’s a known fact that parents are struggling to find even the basic requirements for their children.
He says the school needed more than Shillings 5 million monthly to cater for its operational costs, which will automatically increase with the current commodity items.
Fred Tugume, the headteacher of Royal Rangers school noted that without government assistance, they might be unable to continue operations because most of the parents have failed to meet at least half-payment for their children.
Mariam Kabasongora, a parent at Rwimi says there are some basic items she could not buy for her child due to lack of money.
Samuel Kule Tamwanzire, the Chairperson of Kasese District Headteachers Association says that it’s urgent that the government extends reasonable support to private schools. While meeting members of parliament sitting on the education committee last year, the Commissioner of Private Schools at the Ministry, Edward Sebukyu said that whereas it is true that private schools play a big role in the education sector, the ministry was financially constrained to support them.
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