In Bulembia Division of Kasese Municipality, Mr. Elias Muhindo Mutungwanda, the head teacher of Basecamp Primary School, has been detained at Kasese Central Police Station for reportedly sending away students due to unpaid tuition.
Lt Joe Walusimbi, the resident district commissioner (RDC) for Kasese, issued a warrant for Mr. Mutugwanda's arrest on Tuesday after he observed numerous students loitering near Kilembe Road, where the school is located.
The students informed the RDC that the head instructor had expelled them for failing to pay their tuition.
One of the students remarked, "I have a balance of Shs 1,000, and my other brother has a balance of Shs 2,500; therefore, we must go and help our mother hawk tomatoes to get the money so that we are accepted back to class."
"We agreed in the Parents Teachers Association (PTA) meeting that parents must pay examination fees, pay for remedial classes, and pay other small fees to enhance the performance of their children," Mr. Mutungwanda said in his statement to the RDC. I therefore had them return to their parents to get the money.
Regardless of any PTA-approved resolutions, Walusimbi emphasized that it is illegal to deny disadvantaged children their right to an education.
Do you realize they are UPE (Universal Primary Education) students? They had a right to school, but due to their family's financial situation, they chose Bona basome, a presidential initiative from years ago that aims to ensure that every child can receive a formal education.The irate RDC questioned, "Are you aware of that presidential directive and are you aware that we do not charge school fees in UPE schools?"
According to Mr. Ahebwa Seth, the principal educational officer for the Kasese Municipality, parents and school administrations can develop techniques to raise students' test scores, but it is unethical to take away students' right to an education.
"It wouldn't be illegal if everyone agreed to pay tiny fees for meals, remedial classes, tests, and other expenses, but that doesn't mean head teachers won't expel students who don't pay the costs. Even hearing this from a government school astounds me, he remarked.
According to information obtained by this publication, the school assessed different fees for each class: P1 through P3 students pay Shs 35,000, P4 and P5 students pay Shs 60,000, P6 students pay Shs 65,000, and P7 students pay Shs 100,000.