By Kitts D. Mabonga
Kampala
Dozens of desperate parents who are from largely the low-income bracket have thronged Rubaga Division Education Expo to secure education bursaries for their children ahead of the official term opening.
The development came to light on Wednesday 24 January 2024 during the official opening of a three-day annual Rubaga division Mayor’s education expo which was held at the division Mayor’s gardens which expo was meant to help low-income parents to access and engage with school directors for subsidized fees bursaries.
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The chairman National Association of private education institutions (NAPEI) who was chief guest Hasadu Kirabira slammed the government for reportedly coming up with a policy regulating fees structures among private institutions saying the policy was not popular because the government does not offer any logistical support to private schools.
Kirabira pointed out that it would be good for the government to leave the fees matters to both the parents and schools so that the two stakeholders can amicably engage and agree on possible conditions of moving forward as opposed to imposing practically impossible policy directions.
He congratulated the division Mayor Mberazze Zacchy Mawula for organizing the timely expo saying many parents are currently faced with deep financial challenges which cannot enable them meet the skyrocketing school fees demands saying the Association was strongly advocating for the free negotiation of fees issues by parents and the school authorities.
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Kirabira exclusively commended the directors of Al Khalidia Islamic Nursery Day and boarding and primary school Nakirebe in Mpigi district and Summayah Islamic schools among others for coming out very strongly with favorable bursaries terms which have enabled more parents to afford saying all schools need to emulate them.
The mayor Mberazze in his remarks said he was challenged by the high and overwhelming numbers of parents who cannot afford the skyrocketing fees costs to keep their children in school that was why he came up with the decision of organizing these annual education expos to bridge the gap.
“We decided to exclusively hold strategic discussions with private school proprietors with a mission of asking them to accept and subsidize fees packages such that the children of the poor can also access quality education that is why this expo was organized’ Mberazze noted.
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He strongly cautioned schools not to hike fees as well as avoiding the temptation of breaching deals with parents during such expos and later retracting the offers saying such schools shall be blacklisted and never given any future opportunities from the government due to being dishonest.
The incoming new deputy mayor hajjati Fatuma Muguluma Nansubuga urged the parents to ensure that they prioritize the education of their children because the future now dictates that any uneducated person was likely to suffer a blink future and that they must offer education as the best award to the children for a bright future.
The division NAPEI chairperson Savio Sekamanje pledged his Association commitment to always work closely with the mayor in ensuring that the children of Uganda access quality and affordable education.
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Hon.Eugenia Nassolo a strong women rights activist, politician and educationist said she will work hand in hand with the mayor to ensure that children of Rubaga are given a chance to attend school which effort they will jointly drive through sensitizing parents about the vested benefits embedded in educating children.
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