Sylvia
Leaders in Fort Portal City, including LC1 and LC2 chairpersons, have agreed that parents should continue paying school fees in government schools, but head teachers must account for the money.
This comes as the Minister for Local Government, Baramu Barugahara, is arresting head teachers who charge fees in government schools under the free education programme.
Speaking at an induction meeting for LC1 and LC2 chairpersons at Fort View Hotel in Fort Portal yesterday, speaker after speaker said parents should not leave all their responsibilities to government if they want a bright future for their children. They also said some head teachers have developed a habit of misusing PTA money without fulfilling its intended purpose.
Emmanuel Byaruhanga, LC1 chairman of Bulyanyenje zone, Central Division, said government funding to schools is too little and most schools lack enough teachers. Musinguzi Juma, chairperson of Kamengo B, said parents’ money helps pay teachers who are not on the government payroll and runs school activities
City Mayor Rev. Kintu Willy Muhanga Ateeny said that if parents do not pay, the quality of education will keep deteriorating. He said head teachers must give clear accountability to parents on how the money is used, as agreed in several parents’ meetings.
The Fort Portal Resident City Commissioner Nasike Asumin warned head teachers against sending learners home or denying them exams because of failure to pay the agreed school fees.