Amidst public uproar over soaring school fees, the government has taken a stern stance, announcing the closure of any schools that flout fee regulations effective term two of the 2024 academic year.

In a press statement, Dr. Joyce Kaducu, the state minister for primary education, emphasized that the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) is drafting a statutory instrument to enforce compliance with fee structures. She warned that private schools failing to adhere to these regulations will face closure.

According to Kaducu, the government will enact regulations on 12 items, as endorsed by the cabinet, that schools must exclude from their fee structures. These items encompass various charges, such as infrastructure developments and activities of the board and Parents’ Teachers’ Association (PTA).

“We are determined to curb this trend. Schools will be held accountable, and strict enforcement will be implemented,” Kaducu affirmed during a press briefing following a two-day S5 selection exercise.

The government’s intervention comes on the heels of widespread concerns raised by parents regarding exorbitant fee hikes.

The move aligns with the government’s commitment to provide free and compulsory Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Primary Education (UPE) to alleviate the burden of high school fees. Education Minister Janet Museveni reiterated this commitment during the release of the 2023 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination results.

Debora Basekanakyo, deputy chairperson of the Association of Secondary School Head Teachers of Uganda (ASSHU), shed light on the challenges faced by schools, including the need to raise fees to compensate non-government-paid teachers and address staffing shortages.

While the government aims to ensure equitable access to education, concerns persist over staffing gaps and the welfare of teachers. The ongoing selection exercise seeks to place over 236,280 learners in both government-aided and private secondary schools offering the A’ Level curriculum.

Dr. Jane Egau, undersecretary at the Ministry of Education and Sports, urged head teachers to uphold integrity and fairness in admitting students from diverse backgrounds.