Parents of Bata Secondary School in Bata Town Council, Dokolo District, have resolved to continue paying school fees and supporting the institution despite an ongoing government campaign against what authorities describe as illegal charges in government-aided schools.
The resolution was reached during an emergency consultative general meeting held over the weekend and attended by more than 500 parents whose children are enrolled at the school. During the meeting, parents signed consent forms committing themselves to supporting the school financially to ensure its smooth operation.
The development comes amid a campaign led by the Minister of Local Government, Balaam Barugahara Ateenyi, against illegal fees and charges in government-aided schools.
Although the government initiative is intended to protect parents from unlawful financial demands, some parents argue that its implementation has created operational challenges for schools that have traditionally depended on parental contributions to provide meals, recruit additional teachers and purchase essential scholastic materials.
Speaking during the meeting, Mr. D.L. Okello, a parent and one of the school’s opinion leaders, said parents had agreed to continue contributing towards school fees, arguing that boarding education provides a safer and more supportive learning environment for their children.
He expressed concern that allowing learners to commute from home as day scholars could expose them to negative influences and other risks that might jeopardise their future.
Another parent, Mzee Rachid Eton, said parents had resolved to continue supporting the school because government funding alone was insufficient to meet its operational needs.
He added that maintaining parental contributions would encourage the institution and its learners, while expressing concern about the potential security and social risks associated with children travelling to and from school daily, particularly the girl child.
Eton urged other parents to embrace the resolution, saying collective support was necessary for the continued development of the school and the well-being of learners.
The PTA Chairperson, Mr. Adatu Charles, said the resolution was reached in the interest of supporting the school’s growth and improving the quality of education.
He encouraged parents to remain committed to supporting the institution while urging teachers to dedicate themselves to their teaching responsibilities and the academic development of learners.
Bata Town Council LCIII Chairperson, Mr. Ocen Shabban, who is also a parent of two students at the school, said the decision to continue paying school fees was motivated by the desire to secure a better future for their children and support the school’s continued development.
Meanwhile, the Headteacher, Mr. Denis Ogwal, appreciated parents for committing themselves to supporting the institution financially.
Ogwal, however, regretted that the school administration had not engaged parents earlier to discuss the implications of the government’s directive and share experiences regarding the school’s declining enrolment.
He revealed that student enrolment had dropped from 826 last term to 796 this term, representing a reduction of 30 learners.
He urged parents to continue supporting their children’s education to ensure the smooth running of the institution.
The headteacher also expressed concern over what he described as inadequate government funding, saying Bata Secondary School receives a relatively small grant compared to its student population. He appealed to the government to reconsider its funding allocation to ensure schools receive adequate resources to support their learners.
At Bata Secondary School, parents currently contribute UGX 240,000 in school fees for Ordinary Level (O-Level) students and UGX 290,000 for Advanced Level (A-Level) students.
