Schools Struggle to Operate As Parents Fail to Pay Fees

A section of schools are struggling to operate after parents failed to pay fees. School administrators say that several parents are pleading with them to allow their children study without paying fees.

Last week candidates reported back to school for the third term, but some headteachers, argue that one of the challenges affecting the smooth running of the schools is the failure of parents to remit fees.

Patrick Nyonyintono the Director Kann High school says that several parents are making phone calls to the school administrators pleading with them to allow their children as they look for the school fees. However, they are finding it hard to allow them back because many still have arrears.

//cue in;’’ Bo bagamba …

Cue out…byakoma mu bigambo’’//

Moses Musonge, the headteacher Ebenezer Primary School says they are facing a challenge of inadequate funds to manage the day to day activities of the school. He says that some parents are yet to pay school fees for the previous term.

Musonge explains that as a school they have several things to prepare for which require adequate funds. He says that if the government reopens schools, the school will need more funds to put in place the Covid-19 standard operating procedures. He adds that although they are financially constrained, they will try to put some measures in place.

//cue out; ’Would think if…

Cue out…we are bit constrained ‘’//

Another headteacher Kassim Male of Ebenezer Secondary school explains that parents need to understand that as private schools their only source of survival is the school fees.

//cue in;’’ Also the gov’t … 

Cue out…of the service’’//

Benon Ntege the headteacher Winter Land describes the situation of fees defaulters as challenging, noting that they find it hard to send them back home. He says that some parents are not in the position to pay school fees, because they were affected by the Covid-19 restrictions.

“We don’t want to interfere with the candidates' concentration as time is limited for them and with the COVID 19 issues but I think we have no option, money is needed,” Ntege says.   

Since schools were reopened for learners in candidate classes, school managers and proprietors have been lamenting the lack of funds to run the schools. They argue that the fees collected from candidates are inadequate.