First Lady: Protect UPE accessibility, no extra boarding sections

The government has reaffirmed its opposition to the creation of extra boarding sections in primary schools under the Universal Primary Education (UPE) programme during a recent meeting with the Ntungamo NRM District Executive Committee (DEC).

Concerns were raised about schools pressuring P.6 and P.7 pupils to become boarders, leading to increased costs for parents.

"We understand the concern raised about Primary Six and Seven pupils being compelled to become boarders in primary schools, and I deeply empathize with the parents' and researchers' outcry over the high school fees related to boarding sections," Mrs Janet Museveni, the minister of education and sports, posted on X, formerly Twitter.

She said the government's commitment to maintaining the accessibility and affordability of education, noting the importance of working together to protect these values.

The government is focused on ensuring that UPE remains accessible to all citizens, and additional boarding sections are not part of this initiative.

The minister expressed appreciation for the DEC members' efforts in bringing these issues to light and assured them of the government's dedication to addressing such concerns.