Senior Four candidates in Mityana District have started their UCE examinations without major disruptions, even as private school administrators cite delayed fee payments and government policies as challenges to education delivery.
Senior Four candidates across Mityana District have started their Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, with school administrators reporting a smooth start despite financial challenges facing private schools.
The administrators say delayed school fee payments and government policies affecting the delivery of education continue to put pressure on private institutions.
Candidates reported to their respective examination centres to sit their papers, marking a crucial stage in their academic journey.
However, private school administrators say delayed payments by parents and guardians make it difficult to meet operational costs, including teachers’ salaries and the purchase of learning materials.
“Delayed payment of school fees remains a major challenge for private schools because we still have financial obligations to meet,” a private school administrator said.
Another administrator said late payments disrupt school operations and make it harder to provide the resources learners need.
“When parents do not pay school fees on time, it becomes difficult for schools to meet expenses such as teachers’ salaries and the purchase of learning materials,” the administrator said.
The school administrators appealed to parents and guardians to pay fees promptly to help institutions meet their financial obligations and plan their activities effectively.
“Timely payment of school fees would help schools plan their activities better and meet their financial responsibilities,” an administrator said.
Beyond the financial constraints, private school owners have raised concerns about government policies they say limit their ability to organise academic programmes.
Alex Mayanja, a spokesperson for an association of private school owners, said some government policies had created difficulties for private education providers.
“Some government policies have created challenges for private schools and affected the way we organise and deliver education,” Mayanja said.
He cited restrictions on teaching during school holidays, arguing that the measures limit schools’ ability to organise additional lessons for learners who need extra academic support.
“Restrictions on teaching during school holidays made it difficult for schools to organise additional lessons for learners who require more academic support,” he said.
Mayanja called on the government to consider the concerns of private school owners and create an environment that allows them to operate effectively while maintaining the quality of education.
“We want our concerns to be considered so that private schools can operate effectively and continue providing quality education to learners,” he said.
As the examinations continue, administrators have emphasised the importance of timely fee payments and addressing the challenges facing private schools to ensure they can sustain their operations and support learners.