BY MATHIUS KAHUNGU
Authorities at Kisinga Vocational Secondary School in Kisinga Town Council, Kasese District have asked the educational stakeholders including religious leaders to continue convincing the government to bend her policy on school fees payment in the government – grant aided secondary schools.
Mr. Benjamin Masereka, the Head teacher at Kisinga Vocational Secondary School, says despite government sending capitation grants under the Universal Secondary Education (USE) and Universal Post-O-Level Education and Training (UPOLET), most schools still continue to grapple with a number of challenges ranging from insufficient infrastructure to staffing gaps.
He stressed that the mentioned challenges prompt them to engage the parents to co-fund and fill the gaps by recruiting more support staff and constructing more classrooms and purchasing more instructional materials to cater for the ever- growing enrollment.
The government of Uganda launched the Universal Secondary Education (USE) policy in 2007 to ensure accessible and affordable education. Under this policy, the state covers capitation grants per student, while parents are only responsible for uniforms, shoes, and basic scholastic materials.
Mr. Masereka explained that Kisinga Vocational Secondary School currently has an enrollment of 1138 students with 89 staff members of whom 59 are teachers and 27 risk losing their jobs if they completely stop parents from paying some school fees and in turn would affect the performance of learners.
He added that for the school to run normally, it still needs at least 6 classrooms, a library, and an ICT Laboratory, a staff quarter and more computers. It is upon that background that Mr. Masereka appeals to stake holders to continue pointing out such challenges.
Rev. Can. Jane Janet Muhindo, the Kisinga Vocational Secondary School Chairperson Board of Governors, revealed that the institution of learning has no English subject government pay-rolled teacher and a few biology teachers which would create a vacuum if the policy is totally adhered to.
Responding to the concerns, Bishop Nason Baluku, called for calm among the teachers and implored them to continue executing their duties as they pray for the government to find a way forward.
He appealed to the parents to continue fulfilling their duties as government looks forward to fully fix the existing gaps in schools.
He made the remarks shortly after dedicating 270 S.4 and 120 S.6 candidates and confirmed a total of 74 students from the host school, Garama Secondary School and Bright Star Nursery and Primary School.
ENDS