The Members of Parliament (MPs) have recommended the provision of Shs309.162bn to the Ministry of Education for the implementation of Free Education in primary & secondary Education.
This was one measure taken by the government to address the exorbitant school fees being charged by schools in Uganda.
The cost drivers include District Level Capitation/ monitoring & inspection- Shs8.5bn, Instructional Materials for all schools- Shs73.2 bn, and School-based Capitation Cost - Shs100.9bn.
The funds will also go toward; Support of Special Needs Education-Shs690Mn, School Welfare Grant like Feeding subsidy for teaching and non-teaching staff & Housing subsidy for teaching staff Shs65.7bn, and Annual Continuous Professional Development for all teachers Shs60.1bn.
Rehabilitating schools
Similarly, MPs have backed the request by the Ministry of Education to have Shs100bn added to the ministry's budget to rehabilitate 200 primary schools across the country. Each school’s renovation works are expected to cost Shs500mn.
Parliament was informed that almost 40% of government primary school structures are dilapidated which leaves the lives of the pupils at stake while they take classes.
The Ministry is also in need of Shs29.304bn to facilitate and support the Secondary School Games but only Shs6bn has been provided in the Ministry’s 2024/25 national budget.
The takeover of community schools
The Ministry also wants an additional Shs30.2bn to take over 100 community and NGO-founded secondary schools whose owners lack of funds to manage the schools, while there is also need for more Shs6.4bn to grant aid to 100 primary schools.
Parliament’s Education Committee was informed that the Ministry received requests across the country to take over these schools and the cost of each school secondary is estimated at Shs300m, while Shs64m is required for each primary school, thus the need for 36.3bn.
However, the funds aren’t available in the 2024/25 national budget for the Ministry.