As families gear up for the new school term, some parents, including Moses Ssekindi in Masuliita, Wakiso district, are eagerly anticipating the implementation of a promised free education policy in public and grant-aided schools. The policy, approved by the Cabinet last year, aimed to inject more funding into the Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) programs, gradually eliminating fees borne by parents.
Ssekindi, among others, expressed optimism that the burden of paying school fees would be lifted this year. However, the Ministry of Education and Sports has clarified that the policy will not be implemented in the first term of 2024. Dr. Denis Mugimba, the Education Ministry spokesperson, explained that while the policy was approved, its implementation is tied to the financial year, beginning in July.
The official school calendar for the academic year 2024 indicates that schools will be in the second term by July. Mugimba clarified that if the budget is approved, the Ministry plans to initiate the policy’s implementation with the Universal Primary Education (UPE) program, focusing on addressing existing gaps leading to additional fees imposed by school boards and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs).
The Universal Secondary Education (USE) program is slated to be included in the following financial year. However, uncertainties arise regarding the availability of funds for this purpose. Reports from parliament suggest that officials from the Ministry of Education have expressed doubts about the program’s implementation as initially intended, citing a lack of allocated funds in the 2024/2025 national budget framework.
Cabinet approved an additional budget of Shs1.48 trillion to support the UPE program from the financial year 2024/2025 to 2027/2028. The first-year allocation of Shs309.16 billion aims to address challenges within the UPE system, focusing on recruiting additional primary teachers and addressing issues such as classroom construction, desk provision, and ensuring an adequate supply of teaching/learning materials.
Parents are advised to adjust their expectations and financial plans accordingly, as the implementation of the free education policy is expected to commence in July, aligning with the new financial year.
