A widow and a mother of four kids in Torit town appeals to private schools to reduce the tuition fees so that children from poor families can afford education.
Speaking to Radio Emmanuel Susan Aneno, says she cannot afford to pay the school fees of her children due to the recent increase.
Aneno tells parents to call for PTA meetings to discuss issues on high school fees impose on their children.
She calls on the Government and school administrators to consider the poor by ensuring children without parents are given access to study.
According to Aneno most schools decide on key educational issues without involving parents.
”I’m paying for four children, two of whom have no parents. The burden to pay for these four kids is very difficult. We cannot afford the high school fees they have imposed. I suggest we the parents should call for a meeting with school administrations to ask them to reduce the fees. Or they can say if you have four kids, pay for two and the Government will pay for the rest. This is my hope”.
The Deputy Head Teacher of AIC Primary School, Okumu Charles Clay, explains that the recent increase is meant for school maintenance and payment of new volunteer teachers.
He says his school has a plan to call for Parents Teachers Association meetings to resolve issues of school concern.
Charles reveals the total sum of school fees per pupil in AIC primary school is 1,250 SSP as compared to last year 850 SSP per term.
‘The reason for the increase is that since 2014 our office has been under construction. It is still incomplete. The office we are using currently belongs to the Church. That’s why we convinced parents to pay that amount for their kids for us to complete our office and move in. Very soon we are going to call a parent’s meeting so that we can sit with them and share our plans”.
Head Mistress of Torit One Primary School, Lagua Charity Roseline, says their school only charge development fund without school fees.
The school admin together with parents are yet to decide on how much a pupil is expected to pay for school development fund.
”For Government schools, we don’t ask for school fees, parents only pay school development fund. But this has not yet been discussed. We will table it in the staff meeting before we meet the parents to agree on the amount to pay. But right now, we are not asking for anything.
Late last week Torit state Director-General of Education blamed school authorities for increasing school dues which is not in line with the government policy.