IS FREE PRIMARY EDUCATION COLLAPSING?: PARENTS TO START PAYING FEES FOR PUPILS WHO REPEAT CLASSES

BY WILBER MUHWEZI-KASIBANTE

IN BUSHENYI—-

The ministry of education and sports has introduced a policy where by if any parent makes his or her child repeat any class in primary section, that parent must pay fees for that child.

This was revealed by the education officer for Sheema District, Esau Nshabirwe during a workshop of Bushenyi LC3 chairmen, perish chiefs, sub-accountants and sub-county chiefs at Bushenyi multipurse hall.

DEO Nshabirwe revealed that the policy will be communicated soonest to chief administration officers countrywide instructing them to implement the policy.

In universal primary school [UPE] they has been automatic promotion of pupils policy but parents would make their pupils repeat classes therefore to  stop this which the Government says  is expensive.

“Each parent who forces her child to repeat any class, will be made  to pay Government some fees” DEO Nshabirwe told participants.

IS THIS END OF FREE EDUCATIO IN PRIMARY EDUCATION?

UPE was introduced in 1997 in Uganda for 20 years now the program has been 100% free but this is first attempt to make parents pay a fee to government. This to me is the beginning of going back to pay fees in primary schools.

SOURCE: www.mknewslink.com

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