Fees in UPE, USE Schools
The Minister in charge of ICT and National Guidance, Hon Dr. Chris Baryomunisi, has directed all Universal Primary (UPE ) and secondary schools (USE) to stop charging learners any fees as schools reopen in January next year.
Dr .Baryomunsi says the government has established that head teachers and management committees of free public schools have been charging learners various charges despite the fact that it is supposed to be free for all.
Baryomunsi says the decision was reached at during a cabinet sitting on Monday.
He says it was agreed that all forms of charges that have been collected from learners in Universal Education System should be abolished.
The decision is directed towards only USE and UPE schools and not government-aided non-USE schools which are mostly governed by faith-based foundation bodies.
Most Universal Education aided schools claim limited funding, has compelled school management committees and PTAs to introduce different payments like development fees, PTA fees, lunch fees among others.
Fees in UPE, USE Schools
Dr. Denis Mugimba, the Ministry of Education Spokesperson, notes that the education ministry has launched a study to establish why Universal Education schools are collecting these charges from learners in the free education system.
He says the government is being supported by the Norwegians to commission a study that will help the government to understand how schools have been utilizing the PTA fees.
Schools closed to over 15 million learners in March 2020 after the President imposed a lock-down to minimise the spread of COVID-19 .
