The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has urged the government to increase capitation grant and enforce stricter regulations on school fees for Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools.
This appeal follows an EOC study that uncovered significant disparities in school fees between government and private institutions, leading to higher dropout rates, especially among vulnerable students.
The study points out that excessive fees, particularly in private schools, are widening the educational gap. Children from low-income families are disproportionately affected, as many are unable to afford the escalating costs, resulting in increased dropouts.
Suzanne Nambatya, an EOC researcher, stressed the importance of regulating school fees. “Clear guidelines are necessary to control how much and how frequently fees can be raised, preventing illegal fee hikes in the education system,” she said.
The report highlights that Western Uganda is the most affected region, with schools charging the highest fees, even under the UPE and USE programs.
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