Residents and the leaders from Bunyoro sub region want government to come out and formalize the issue of cost sharing in government schools.
They made their plea yesterday during the Bunyoro sub region education conference which was organized by Recreation for development and Peace (RDP) in partnership with Action aid Uganda at education hall in Masindi town.
According to Robert Muhangi the executive director RDP Uganda, the conference was organized to enable leaders from the region come out with a position paper containing issues which can contribute towards the improvement of academic performance in the area.
Muhangi noted that the issues which were generated by the residents and the leaders from Bunyoro will be presented to the national education conference slated for 30th December 2019 in Kampala.
Speaking during the same conference, Joab Businge, the mayor Masindi municipality argued that it is better for government to formalize cost sharing in government schools since it will reduce negligence amongst the parents since they will become more responsible on their children.
He added that this will also enable leaders and other law enforcers to compel parents to meet their obligations. He explained that many parents in villages abandoned their responsibilities expecting government to do everything which is not possible.
Alled Akugizibwe from Miirya Sub County and also a teacher at Kings College Buddo said that government should come out and formalize cost sharing since it is hard for it to meet all the objectives arguing that with the parents’ contribution other things can be done by the parents hence improving academic performance.
Many time HE: Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the president of the republic of Uganda has been against the practice of collecting money from the parents with children in government schools, however District education officers, inspectors of schools and the head teachers say they are forced to do so because the grants released to them are small compared to the number of pupils and the activities to be worked upon.
Ali Babi, from Hoima district said if Uganda is to have quality education, government has to accept that parents have to put in saying that cost sharing is the way to go since the grants which are remitted to government facilities are scanty.
Cosmas Byaruhanga, the LCV chairperson Masindi district advised parents to understand that there is no free education in the whole world stating that government only comes in to support the existing schools which have be either started by churches or the community.
He advised parents to always play their role of providing the necessary support to their children and forget the free education.
Masindi Resident District Commissioner, Godfrey Nyakahuma welcomed the idea saying that parents can contribute towards the education of their children but warned head teachers in government schools against denying chance of studying to pupils who fail to raise the money .He noted that councils and school management committees can come out with resolutions but it shouldn’t affect other children.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
