As the new school term commences today, many parents are facing a financial burden due to a sharp increase in school fees across various education levels, from kindergarten to secondary schools.
Despite the ongoing economic hardships, several schools have raised their fees by as much as shs200,000 or more, leaving parents in distress.
Many parents have expressed frustrations on social media, stating that the sudden increments have caught them off guard.
Some schools now require a higher initial deposit before admitting students for the term, further complicating matters for struggling families.
For some, the increment means delays in sending children back to school as they struggle to raise the required amount.
Others are considering transferring their children to more affordable schools, while some fear they may be forced to keep them at home entirely.
For years, school administrators have defended fee increases, attributing them to the rising cost of living, high prices of essential school supplies, and the need to adjust staff salaries.
Fee increments are most common in private schools, where it has become a routine practice to raise fees at the start of each year.
Education stakeholders have consistently urged private school administrators not to increase fees. However, this has proven challenging due to the nature of our free-market economy.
Most schools require 70% of the fees to be paid before students are allowed on the premises, which many parents find difficult. They suggest that schools adopt a more flexible payment plan to ease the financial burden.
