Stakeholders in the education sector have appealed to the government to increase capitation grants to schools if the universal primary and secondary education programmes are to be successful.
This, educators in Kabale District say, would improve infrastructure in schools, besides providing meals for learners.
The chairperson of the Uganda National Teachers Union, Zadock Tumuhimbise, said the government should have considered the increment of capitation grants 10 years ago.
He said the Shs20,000 budgeted for each pupil per year is too low compared to the cost of the required school items that increase every day.
The Kabale District Education Officer, Moses Bwengye, said the money, which the government releases as a capitation grant for every pupil under the Universal Primary Education for every term, is too little and has tempted school administrators to charge extra fees for providing meals and also for infrastructure development.
Other stakeholders said the directives of the government banning the collection of any fees from educational institutions without increasing the capitation grant affects the smooth implementation of the universal education programme.
But the LCIII chairperson of Ryakarimira Town Council in Kabale District, Enock Kazooba, tasked the parents to invest in the education of the children by giving them packed meals since the government is providing other scholastic materials.
