It is oke for Government to regulate school fees



I have in the recent passed encountered scenarios where students and pupils have failed to get back to school simply because the fees is hiked every term with no clear justification but only one reason is always given, the economy is doing bad. This is always done by schools even without notification of the parents. Everyone has a right to education and it is unfortunate that the schools that are meant to promote this right are in actual sense violating it by their irregular fees causing many to drop off or not join at all-leaving education only for the rich.



For instance, I have known schools that ask for more than UGX 1,500,000 as fees per term and this is without school requirements-which are by and large irregular. Some schools demand for materials like paint, barbed wires, rakes, spades, cement, brooms, 12 rolls of toilet papers, 12 reams of paper per student among others and one wonders whether their children are going to set up hardware and stationery shops or actually study. Secondly, what is the school fees for if students and pupils must all the time carry these requirements. I have also had a chance to look at the fees breakdown of some schools and was surprised that parents actually pay for things like fees for needy students, generator fuel, pastoral care, building fees and then school fees it self. These different charges are irregular and extortionist. Schools are at a liberty to set their own guidelines especially on fees and in doing this, they are leaving out many needy Ugandans from accessing education services.



I have on several occasions asked the ministry of Education and sports to regulate the tuition fees and I am happy the Ministry has responded positively. The Ministry put together a committee to come up with a policy on school fees for both private and government institutions. This is welcome as we need to balance between Business and Human rights, the former should not suffocate the latter. I have also learnt that private institutions are up in arms over the government move but it is high time they are regulated like any other business. Regulation to protect consumers and public against exploitation is always health.

By:
Michael Aboneka

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Why we should worry about the growing inequality in Uganda

by Michael Aboneka   Uganda continues to grapple with worrying inequalities and regional imbalances.  According to World Bank (2022), half of the population was moderately food insecure and the poorest households were unable to buy food products in the desired amounts. This means that half of our population is a hungry one which can do anything for survival.  In 2021 the Ministry of Finance reported that 28% of Ugandans were poor increasing from 18% prior to COVID-19 era with about two thirds of Uganda losing income and the economy and business still staggers while the gap between the poor and rich widens further because the poor and less privileged are affected adversely proving that  Uganda’s growth is not inclusive. Recently; I saw a number of colleagues expressing their disappointment after some young men stole side mirrors of their cars in broad day light in Kampala and they were left helpless; they couldn’t even run after the thieves. The same state of hopelessness is true to maj
Read more

The US Africa-summit: What is in it for Uganda?

  By Michael Aboneka The US Africa summit, the first of its kind for eight years, following the end of the era of Donald Trump and his America first policy, just concluded. With US President, Joe Biden, deliberately playing a different tune from his predecessor Donald Trump. His was indeed a courting ode, with a promise that the US is "All in on Africa's future”. Even more endearing was the declaration that “Africa belongs at the table in every room — in every room where global challenges are being discussed and in every institution where discussions are taking place” that accompanied the promise that US will support African Union joining the G20 group of large economies as a permanent member.  Biden announced $2 billion in humanitarian aid for Africa to address acute food insecurity, with emphasis that Africa has potential to feed itself and the world and a joke that he, like a poor relative, will visit Africa and spend a long time there. The cheery tone and overt support fro
Read more

The Computer Misuse (Amendment) Bill 2022 cures no mischief

  By Michael Aboneka Jr Hon. Muhammad Nsereko sought leave of Parliament to table an amendment bill to the Computer Misuse Act in February 2022 and has now tabled the bill on the floor of Parliament. In my view, there is nothing new that the new law is seeking to cure and I am waiting to read the Regulatory impact assessment and the justifications thereof beyond public debates.  From the proposed long title of the bill, objectives and the clause on defects in existing law, it is not clear and specific enough of what mischief the bill intends to cure. The amendment seeks to largely protect the right to privacy, prohibition of unlawful access to data and spreading of false information which are already protected by existing legal frameworks such as the Constitution, Children Act, the Human Rights Enforcement Act 2019, Penal Code Act, Data protection and privacy Act 2019 among others. All these provide layers of protection that the bill seeks to do and by large, the amendment will only du
Read more