The cost of education in Uganda is going higher and higher every other day that makes some wonder if it is even worth it after completing school and walking for years without landing a decent job.
Schools, private and public, have over the years exploited parents and sponsors by increasing school fees for children almost every other term, citing things like inflation and bad economic conditions among others.
This is on top of asking for unrealistic requirements like development fees, a ream of paper each term, test fees, outrageous prices for field trips, spades, wheelbarrows, and if not checked, some would have asked for oxygen cylinders.
These requirements, most times than not, make some economically constrained parents fail to finance their children for school, and end up dropping out.
Parents have complained over time, and concerned authorities have finally listened. The Minister of State for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo has come out to warn schools, whether private or public, against increasing school fees for whatever reason without written authorization.
“No school, private or government, shall increase school fees for whatever reason without written authorization from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and/or Chief Administrative Officer/Town Clerk as the case may be,” Muyingo said.
Muyingo’s warning comes just a few weeks after the normal school term has started, and it comes as a relief for parents.