By Mulengera Reporters
A teacher at Badru Kakunguru Memorial School in Kyazanga town council, Lwengo district blocked a candidate from writing her final examination over unpaid school fees of 300,000 shillings. Nazifah Nakato had turned up to sit the mathematics paper examination only to be told to wait until she clears her outstanding school balance accrued from the last term.
Nakato, who was in tears, noted that she had changed to another school after registering for UCE on account that she could raise the school fees charged by Badru Kakunguru Memorial School. “After registration, my parents could no longer afford the school fees of a private school. Instead of dropping out completely, I suggested that I temporarily enroll in Mabirizi Seed Secondary pending writing of the final examinations,” she noted.
However, on return, she was instructed by the head teacher to pay 400,000 Shillings for school fees in order to be allowed to sit for her final examinations at their center. It took the pleading of Nakato’s mother Aidah Namutebi, to reduce the balance to 300,000 Shillings.
Namutebi says that although she accepted to pay, the money was not readily available. “In between Friday and Monday, I tried to hunt for the money in vain. The headteacher told me that she could not allow my daughter to sit,”
Namutebi sought the help of Deputy RDC Robert Kambugu, who in turn engaged the school director, Suleiman Ssemugenyi, to allow the candidate to write her exams. But, the mother also had to write a formal agreement committing to pay the money.
Eventually, the candidate was allowed to enter the examination room almost 15 minutes after her colleagues had started. At Gulu College School, in Gulu City, the head teacher Florence Akello briefly blocked 10 candidates for 46 minutes.
Akello said that the school needed commitment letters from the individual candidates on how they will pay the school fee balance. However, she didn’t disclose how much the school owes the candidates in question. The fees structure of the school for senior four is 323,500 Shillings per term.
Last Thursday, UNEB asked the parents and school administrators to resolve any outstanding issues—including school fees—that might inconvenience candidates. According to UNEB Executive Director Dan Odongo, such inconveniences may lead to failure or poor performance.
At Nyakasura School in Fort Portal City, 59 students who had previously been suspended for indiscipline were allowed to sit the exams on condition they commute from home and are accompanied by police or their parents.
The students attacked security guards who had thwarted their attempt to flee the school. Rev Richardson Balinda the school head teacher said that because they are candidates, they must still take their exams but cannot be permitted to remain in school-URN (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [whatsapp line], 0779411734 & 0200900416 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).