The Minister of Finance (General Duties), Henry Musasizi, has grilled the headteacher of Ruhija Seed Secondary School over the charging of school fees, despite the school operating under the Universal Secondary Education (USE) programme, which is intended to be free.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the school in Ruhija Town Council, Rubanda West County, Rubanda District on Thursday, it emerged that school authorities had been charging students Shs90,000. This prompted Minister Musasizi to question the headteacher on why learners were being asked to pay what he described as unauthorised fees.
The headteacher, Theodore Byamukama, explained that the Shs90,000 charge had been agreed upon by parents to cater for learners’ lunch and security services.
However, Minister Musasizi rejected the explanation and directed that the Shs90,000 fee be stopped immediately, provided that parents supply learners with lunch, uniforms and other scholastic materials. He emphasized that imposing fees under USE undermines government efforts to achieve human capital development goals.
CUE IN MINISTER MUSASIZI……ON THE MATTER……RR//
Meanwhile, Byamukama revealed that none of the teaching staff has been enrolled on the government payroll, adding that since his appointment, he has never received a salary, although school activities have continued to run. He said he would convene a PTA meeting, noting that if parents agree to pack food for their children, it would ease the financial pressure on the school administration.
CUE IN BYAMUKAMA……ON THE ISSUE… RR/ENG//
The Rubanda District Vice Chairperson, Prossy Kesafari, commended government for expanding access to free education, expressing optimism that the new school will significantly reduce dropout rates in Ruhija Town Council and improve education outcomes across the district.
She urged teachers to uphold professionalism, parents to support and protect the school, and learners to maintain discipline in order to achieve academic success. The Shs3.16 billion Ruhija Seed School was constructed under the Uganda Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers (UGIFT) Programme by Geses Uganda Limited. The school is part of government’s broader commitment to ensure at least one secondary school in every sub-county across the country.
The facility boasts modern infrastructure, including six classrooms in two blocks, two multipurpose unity blocks, science laboratories, an ICT laboratory, an administration block, staff houses, students’ and staff latrines, a multipurpose hall, a playground, water tanks and other external works, all designed to provide a conducive learning environment.
Ruhija Seed Secondary School becomes the third government-built seed school in Rubanda District within the last five years.
