Free secondary education will benefit thousands of children |
KAMPALA, 8 Jan 2007 (IRIN) - Uganda has begun implementing a free universal secondary
education (USE) programme in 700 public and 280 private schools
in the first phase of a scheme aimed at making education accessible to all,
officials said on Monday.
Education Minister Namirembe Bitamazire said
her ministry had released 7.3 billion Ugandan shillings (US $4.2 million) for
public and private schools included in the programme.
"The ministry is in
the final stages of releasing seven million shillings ($3,888) to each of the
schools that are going to participate in USE," she said adding that rigorous
accountability would be enforced to ensure the money was used
correctly.
She said that because of budgetary constraints, vocational and
technical training institutions have been excluded from the initial stage of the
programme.
"Vocational and technical training will be incorporated in the
system as funds become available," she explained.
Since 1997, Uganda has
offered free education in all public primary schools. "Ours is a pro-poor
intervention. Those who want to can still take their children to the so-called
powerful schools that are [charging] a lot of money," said
Bitamazire.
Only students who sat the Primary Leaving Examination in 2006
will be eligible. Boarding costs are not covered under the programme and parents
were expected to pay for medical
care.