Leaders of the National Economic Empowerment Dialogue (NEED) are calling for the Ministry of Education and the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) to eliminate the registration fees that students pay to take their final exams. They argue that these fees have prevented many students from participating in their exams, negatively impacting education in the country.
This demand was presented during a press conference held at the party headquarters in Rubaga.
Asuman Odaka, the Secretary General of NEED, emphasized that many students in candidate classes are unable to take their final exams due to the high registration fees imposed by the examination body. He urged UNEB to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Sports, which receives annual budgetary allocations, to exempt all candidates at both primary and secondary levels from registration fees.
Odaka pointed out that numerous reports indicate that many parents struggle to afford the necessary fees, which hampers their children’s education. The issue of registration fees has become a significant obstacle for students pursuing education in the country.
Deputy Organizing Secretary Godfrey Ssetumba questioned the government’s commitment to the well-being of ordinary citizens and called for a discussion on the elimination of UNEB registration fees. He emphasized that if the government aims to ensure education for all and reduce school dropout rates, it should seriously consider removing this financial burden. He also questioned the necessity of government-set exams if only a few students can afford to register for them.
Ssetumba highlighted educational disparities in regions like Karamoja, where a lack of educated individuals contributes to slower progress. He accused the National Resistance Movement of hindering the education system by allowing schools to charge excessive tuition fees, making it difficult for many students to pay the registration fees due to their families’ financial hardships, particularly when parents are unemployed.
Currently, the prescribed registration fees for each level are 34,000 shillings for Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) candidates, 164,000 shillings for Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) candidates, and 186,000 shillings for Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) candidates. Candidates who miss the regular registration timeline are required to pay a surcharge for late registration, which amounts to 68,000 shillings for PLE, 246,000 shillings for UCE, and 279,000 shillings for UACE.
It is important to note that the Uneb Act of 2021, under section 33, considers it an offence for any school to charge fees not prescribed by the board. However, some schools still engage in the practice of increasing registration fees.
