As schools country wide are left with less than two weeks to open for first term, Government of Uganda has been asked to devise means of ensuring that at least prices of scholastic materials remain stable and affordable to all parents.
Stakeholders from Elsa Africa while handing over scholastic donation to children of kiwogo village, namuyenje parish, nakisunga subcounty in mukono district, noted that if prices are not regulated , prices of scholastic materials may be increase which may lead to high number of school dropouts.
Elsa Africa communications director Namata Rosemary , “Young people, especially girls, are facing challenges of buying essential commodities. Prices were already high but now they are getting out of reach. Girls may soon fail to buy sanitary pads yet they keep them safe at school during Menstruation period.”
Namata added that government should think about young people who make up the largest percentage of country’s population and many of the are un employed . “Government may decide to reduce on taxes imposed on scholastic materials, pads and taxes on schools so that school fees can remain affordable to all Ugandans.”
Charles Teera Ssentongo , a resident of Mukono reported that ever since he was terminated from work during covid19 lockdown, life has been so hard on his side to the extent that raising school fees for his children is now a big challenge.
“At times we manage to raise school fees but again you have to look for scholastic materials which are also expensive. We call upon Government at least to give tax holidays to companies engaged in manufacturing of scholastic materials so that they can be affordable to all less privileged parents.” He added
