By KT Reporter
Parents are up in arms against the administration of the government-aided Mpanga Secondary School in Fort Portal City. The parents cite a range of concerns, including alleged illegal fee increments, compulsory purchase of school uniforms from the school, increased admission and development fees, and the dismissal of students over non-payment during the first week of term.
They argue that the changes were implemented without adequate consultation and in disregard of government guidelines governing fees in public schools. Joyce Kunihira, a parent, says her child was sent home on Thursday of the first week of term for failing to clear 100,000 Shillings as required by the school.
Kunihira says she believed government schools were meant to support low-income earners who struggle to meet education costs. She adds that purchasing uniforms compulsorily from the school is unfair, especially for parents who had planned to pass down uniforms from older siblings to younger ones joining the same school.
Patrick Amanyire, another parent, claims the increments were introduced without formally informing parents. He notes that under government policy, students are not supposed to be sent home for failure to pay fees. Amanyire says the cost of school uniforms has been raised to 150,000 shillings and made compulsory to buy from the school, yet parents previously purchased uniforms on the open market at between 60,000 and 80,000 Shillings.
He further says the admission fee was increased from 60,000 Shillings last year to 80,000 Shillings this year. Robert Businge, another parent, says that although parents are willing to contribute to the school, the increments are too high and were introduced without consultation. The parents are now demanding that the school administration withdraw the new charges or convene a meeting to harmonise the fees.
Joram Bintamanya, the Fort Portal Central Division Mayor-elect, says school administrators must consult parents and reach a common understanding before making any changes. Bintamanya says while parents can contribute through the Parentsand Teachers Association (PTA), the charges must be communicated and agreed upon.
However, the school Headteacher, Charles Drake Rubongoya, says the changes were introduced for the betterment of the school. He says parents’ contributions were agreed upon during a meeting, where it was resolved that only Senior One and Senior Five fees would be adjusted, while other classes would retain previous rates.Currently, Senior One students pay 200,000 Shillings; Senior Two, 150,000; Senior Three and Four, 180,000; Senior Five, 250,000; and Senior Six, 200,000 Shillings. Previously, Senior One and Senior Two paid 150,000 Shillings, while A-Level students paid 200,000 Shillings.
Rubongoya says the money caters to operational expenses and materials required under the new curriculum. He adds that new students pay 25,000 shillings as admission fees, alongside other charges including a 40,000-shilling development fund, 5,000 shillings for an identity card, 5,000 for passport photographs, and 5,000 for biometric registration, bringing the total to 80,000 shillings.
The Headteacher explains that previously, parents bought uniforms from different suppliers, resulting in variations in quality and colour shades. To ensure uniformity, the school resolved to work with a single supplier, making uniforms available through the school.According to Rubongoya, O-Level students pay 140,000 Shillings for uniforms, while A-Level students pay 150,000 Shillings.
Yoweri Museveni has on several occasions warned that no extra fees should be charged in government primary and secondary schools, insisting that education in such institutions should be entirely free.
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