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The commission hopes to avoid exploitation of parents by schools that hiked their school fees in this current economic crisis.
A board member of the EOC, Mr Habibu Sseruwagi yesterday addressed journalists in Kampala. He said the commission finds that 35% of parents have pending fees balances from last year.
He felt concerned about parents with children in schools that hiked fees during the economic downturn caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Further, he cited other challenges for example the social challenges occasioned by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“In order to cope with the rising operational cost caused by Covid-19, many schools increased fees at the beginning to the last academic year. However, these increments were still unfair since the parents’ incomes had not changed,” Mr Sseruwagi said.
He said that without government’s intervention, many schooligoing children will be denied access to education.
“Government, especially the Ministry of Education should say no [to this situation]. This is because it seems schools have been left to increase the dues at any time they wish yet schools are experiencing almost the same challenges as parents,” Mr Habiibu said.
In response, Dr Chris Baryomunsi, the Minister of ICT and National Guidance, said private schools doing this are doing it illegally.
He urged private schools to agree on favorable fees structures, saying the government will soon pass a law to guide on this matter.
Check Also;
- You Can’t Say Don’t Increase School Fees When Everything Has Increased; UNATU Secretary
- We Are Working On The Issue Of Exorbitant School Fees; Government
- Look For Schools That You Can Afford; Rogers Mulindwa Tells Ugandans
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![[dropcap]A[/dropcap] section of women in Bugongo parish and Nawangaiza parish in Nawandala Sub County, Iganga District have decried the near-impossible terms set for them to access GROW funds. They have now petitioned their woman member of parliament for Iganga Hon. Kauma Sauda Alibaawo to ask the government for revised terms and conditions. This is to enable them to benefit from the program. The disgruntled women accuse the implementers of the program of charging the money. They are also asking for their land titles and land agreements. They said that such properties are governed by their husbands. These, therefore want the government through their woman MP to intervene and revise the requirements for one to benefit. The women were on Wednesday at Namabwere primary school in Nawandala Sub County. They had gathered in their respective groups to receive over 300 chickens from Hon Alibaawo in her campaign to improve the livelihood of women in Iganga district. Each group was given 50 chicken as start-up capital in their journey to prosperity. Read what some leaders said; Ms Naigambi Lydia from Nawandala Trading Centre says, “They solicited money from us through opening bank accounts and depositing Shs80,000. They also asked for land titles and land agreements from us yet we don’t have such things. I was informed that I needed to have a business with a capital of Shs4m yet my capital was very small.” The chairperson Kisoboka Saving Group in Nawandala Ms. Nakagolo Faith said they were not able to join the program. This is given the many conditions attached. She also asked their woman MP to raise their concerns to the relevant offices. The MP condemned the mode of implementation of the program. She cited that it has turned to benefit the well-off class of women other than the intended group. She further asked the government to intervene saying the current strings attached to the programme are very tight to accommodate a common woman. GROW project is a Government of Uganda initiative that arose out of the need to respond to the needs of women entrepreneurs. This is especially those who want to grow their businesses, sustain their self-employment and create more jobs. Check Also; Iganga District NRM Leaders Urge Museveni To Fulfill Election Promises Of 2021 International Women's Day: Celebrating Progress Towards Equality](https://newslexpoint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Iganga-women-decry-tough-terms-to-access-GROW-funds-e1731738339732.jpg)