Parents up in arms as UPE, USE schools charge UNEB exam fees

A section of parents in various districts in the central region have raised the red flag over some public school administrators charging examination registration fees from pupils and students in candidate classes yet the government pays the money to Uganda National Examinations Board (Uneb).
Some parents who spoke to Daily Monitor revealed that public primary schools charge between Shs45,000 and Shs50,000, which is illegal.
Daily Monitor has learnt that Uneb charges candidates set to sit for Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) Shs34,000, Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) Shs164,000 in some public schools while those planning to sit for Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) pay Shs186, 000.
Mr Abel Kabuye, one of the aggrieved parents from Kyanamukaaka Sub-county in Masaka District, says in addition to Uneb exam fees, schools under government’s free education scheme also charge other fees for candidates’ passport photos and identity cards.
“We always agree on other fees such as private examination fees, passport photos and identity cards during our Parents and Teachers Association meetings but Uneb exam registration fees are paid by the government. However, the schools have shifted the burden to parents,” he said at the weekend.
Mr Kabuye said he was asked to pay Shs110,000 as Uneb exam fees for his two children in Primary Seven and asked the government to intervene.
Mr Henry Kayima, a parent at Zzimwe Cope Primary School, said the school charges Shs50,000 as Uneb exam fees and many parents are still reluctant to pay the money.
“It is a must for a candidate to pay Shs50, 000 before registering for PLE and no government official or local leader has intervened to question why such illegal fees are being charged,” he said.
However,  Mr John Bosco Mulindwa, the deputy education officer in Masaka District, told Daily Monitor that no public school under universal primary or secondary scheme is allowed to charge fees from candidates.
“Government sponsors all UPE pupils and pays for their registration fees, but it is shocking to hear that parents are asked to pay money,”  he said 
 He asked the aggrieved parents to formally complain to his office so that their concerns can be addressed.
Government sponsors the biggest number of candidates each year under its universal education programmes.
The revelation comes amid concerns that the coronavirus pandemic has wiped out more than 60 per cent of people’s income since March. 
A report by United Nations in Uganda dubbed: Leaving No One Behind, From the Covid-19 Response to Recovery and Resilience-Building, released last week indicated that more than 60 per cent of small businesses are losing revenue while unemployment levels and loan defaults are rising and putting significant pressure on the banking and finance system.
Similarly, a May to June survey by Twaweza, a non-governmental organisation, said a quarter of households (26 per cent) now report that their income is insufficient to cover their basic daily needs, a slight increase from 22 per cent in January. 
Daily Monitor has since established that many private schools in the countryside are charging exam registration fees ranging between Shs50, 000 and Shs65,000 for Primary Seven candidates, Shs200,000 and Shs220,000 for Senior Four and Shs230,000 and Shs290,000 for Senior Six candidates, which parents say are too high given the current economic situation in the country. 
Mr Robert Tumwesigye, a youth councillor at Kyanamukaaka Sub-County, who is also the sub-county deputy speaker, says almost 90 per cent of government schools charge Uneb registration fees.
He says when one questions why the money is being collected, the head teachers give excuses, saying it is for other purposes. 
Mr Patrick Zziwa, the Bukomansimbi District education officer, said the head teachers charge the fees illegally.
“We ask parents and other stakeholders to reports all cases of extortion and hiking of exam fees so that we can investigate those teachers,” he said.
Ms Jenifer Kalule Musumba, the spokesperson of Uneb, said the government through the Ministry of Education pays the Uneb exam registration fees for all candidates under UPE and USE programmes and there is no reason why schools should shift the burden to the parents.
“It is regrettable if parents with candidates in UPE schools are forced to pay exam fees; education officers in the affected districts should investigate such reports and work with police to arrest the culprits,” she said, adding: “Parents should also know that the exam registration fee structure is standard for both the private and public schools.”
Mr Kenneth Mugagga, the head teacher of Zzimwe Cope Primary School, declined to speak about the matter, and so did other implicated head teachers.
“I don’t understand what you are talking about,” he said before hanging up.
Mr John Baptist Kimbowa, the Rakai District education officer, said if some head teachers charge exam fees from parents, it could be an internal arrangement between the two parties.
“I have not heard any parent complaining, but if it exists, that must be an internal arrangement which we are going to investigate as soon as possible,” he said.
Mr Ernest Mulamba, the head teacher of Lukoma Primary School in Buvuma District, said at his school, they agreed with  parents that each candidate pays Shs25,000.
“Much as the government pays exam registration fees for candidates, there are other requirements such as passport photos, identification cards and the Internet to carry out online registration which requires money,” he said.
Last week,  the Uneb executive secretary, Mr Daniel Odongo, warned that schools that will be caught charging beyond the standard rates risk losing their examination centre numbers or face other penalties slapped by the Ministry of Education. 
Registration of candidates for Uneb exams started last week and will take five weeks, according to Mr Odongo.
Six years ago, Uneb rolled out the exam e-registration system following a successful two-year pilot in 60 districts. The e-registration system is programmed with names of schools, subject combinations, and other embedded help systems, it is user friendly and many schools across the country have since embraced the process.
According to a new exam timetable issued by Uneb, students will start their UCE exams on March 1, Primary Seven pupils will sit their PLE on March 30 and March 31 while Senior Six candidates will start their UACE exams on April 12.

Compiled by Al-Mahdi Ssenkabirwa, Wilson Kutamba, Denis Edema & Ambrose Musasizi