A debate over government funding for Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) schools has emerged after a concerned Ugandan parent questioned how schools are expected to operate on limited government grants while headteachers face arrest for asking parents to make additional contributions.
The parent challenged the adequacy of government funding, arguing that the approximately UGX 6,667 allocated per primary school pupil per term is insufficient to meet the operational needs of schools, including purchasing learning materials and maintaining school facilities.
In a video that has attracted widespread attention on social media, the parent questioned the rationale behind arresting headteachers who seek additional financial support from parents to ensure the smooth running of schools.
“Parents to Balaam, you allocate UGX 7,000 per learner for an entire term, then you arrest headteachers who ask parents to make additional contributions to support their children’s education. Can a school operate without adequate funding? Do your children study on a budget of UGX 7,000?” the parent questioned.
The concerns have attracted reactions from social media users, with several agreeing that the current government allocations are inadequate to support the effective operation of schools.
Some commentators have called on the government to increase education funding, arguing that schools require sufficient resources to provide essential learning materials, maintain infrastructure and create a conducive learning environment.
Others have questioned whether children of government officials attend schools operating under similar financial limitations, calling for greater accountability and fairness in the country’s education financing system.
The debate comes amid continued concerns about underfunding, corruption and the quality of education in Uganda, with calls for the government to review its education financing policy and ensure allocations reflect the actual cost of running schools.
The discussion has renewed questions about how schools can maintain quality education when government grants remain limited while school administrators are discouraged from seeking additional contributions from parents.
