education 5 October 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
PTA Fee Ban in Government Schools Could Harm Education Standards, Experts Warn
Education stakeholders are raising alarms over recent government directives to halt Parents Teachers Association (PTA) charges in public schools, fearing it will exacerbate teacher shortages and lower educational quality. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/educationists-caution-over-ban-on-pta-charges-in-government-schools-5619944
Education experts and school administrators are voicing significant concerns following a directive from the Minister for Local Government, Balaam Barugahara, prohibiting government schools from collecting unauthorized PTA fees. They argue that this ban could severely impact the operational capacity of public institutions, potentially leading to a decline in educational standards.
For years, many government schools have depended on PTA contributions to supplement government funding. These funds have been crucial for hiring additional teachers, particularly during periods when government recruitment is frozen, and for addressing various operational gaps. The prohibition on these levies means schools may no longer be able to afford extra teaching staff, resulting in increased teacher shortages.
“Government schools that have been relying on PTA contributions to pay additional teachers can no longer afford to retain them. This will leave schools with teacher shortages and could push parents who value quality education to move their children to private schools,” warned Ibrahim Kanakulya, a former Inspector of Schools for Kamuli District and a member of the NRM Elders League.
Concerns have also been raised about the selective application of such directives. Critics question whether the ban is being enforced uniformly across all schools, including well-established and affluent institutions, or if it disproportionately affects smaller, struggling schools. This perceived disparity could lead to an uneven playing field in the education sector.
University lecturer Prince Selly Katuramu emphasized that government-provided education is intended to be a supplement to, not a replacement for, parental investment. He stated that government-sponsored education is universal, not free, and that suppressing community fundraising efforts like PTA charges could widen the quality gap between public and private schools.
The effective implementation of the new lower secondary school curriculum also requires adequate resources, and experts worry that the ban on PTA fees might hinder schools’ ability to meet these resourcing needs. This situation could ultimately force parents seeking better quality education to seek alternatives in the private sector.