Head teachers criticize government’s decision to have them return funds for second term as capitation grant

Kiconco Eunice.

Head teachers of government aided schools have criticized the decision by Ministry of Finance asking them to return funds they had received for the second term as capitation grant.

The Kamwenge district UNATU chairperson Mubunga John while talking on behalf of government-aided schools head teachers criticized the decision by the Ministry of Finance asking them to return funds they had received for the second term as capitation grant.

Mubunga urges that when schools were closed in march, there are some activities that continued after government had announced that schools would only close for three weeks forcing some staffs to remain at the institutions and were using power and water.

He says during this lockdown period, schools had to keep paying a night watchman, and keeping schools clean.

Niwagaba Edson, the head teacher of Rwengobe primary school Bigodi in Kamwenge district, says schools have been depending on different sources of revenue to run, citing parents’ contributions and governments capitation grants.

He says now that parents are not contributing because of schools are closed, the only way is through capitation grant, adding that there some basic services that cannot stop running much as the children are not going to school, like utility bills, watch men must be paid and the compounds are bushy and must be maintained.

He says the decision that the money be taken back is not guided by the reality on the ground.