Deputy Speaker demands ministry action against excessive School Fees

The Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Thomas Tayebwa, has instructed the Ministry of Education and Sports to implement robust sanctions against schools found charging excessive school fees. This directive comes in response to numerous complaints from the public.

During the plenary session on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, the Deputy Speaker expressed Parliament’s ongoing concern regarding the issue of school fees, noting that despite previous discussions and directives, the situation appears to be deteriorating.

Mr. Tayebwa highlighted the abundance of complaints regarding school fees circulars from various institutions, both government and private, emphasizing the need for clear and enforceable measures to address the problem. He expressed alarm at the exorbitant fees being imposed by some schools, which are causing financial strain for both parents and students.

As a result, Mr. Tayebwa has instructed the Ministry of Education and Sports to provide a statement detailing the punitive actions that will be taken against schools that defy government directives on fees.

Currently, many schools across Uganda, both public and private, are operating without sufficient regulations on school fees, exacerbating financial burdens for families.

Despite the implementation of Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) by the government, some public schools continue to charge unreasonably high fees.