At the beginning of each academic year, pressure mounts among parents as they strive to send their children back to school. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that the end of year activities have eaten deeply in many pockets. This year was no different, and worse still, many schools hiked their “fees”. [READ ALSO: Parents to bear the brunt as city schools hike fees] Rwanda Education Board is quick to point out that the money parents pay is not school fees because education in public schools is free for the first twelve years. Not a very convincing argument when a parent still pays astronomical sums for various costs to cover schools’ expenses. Some schools also expect parents to cough up money to top up teachers’ salaries as incentives. But the question is; why are there discrepancies in the amounts public schools charge yet the capitation grants the government gives each school is the same, calculated per student? Why should two public schools in the same district charge varying amounts? That is a question that many parents pose and for which the Ministry of Education should find an answer. One way of addressing this burning issue is for the government to grant funding to schools basing on the cost of living in each district or province. Definitely food costs more in the city than in the countryside; the funds should reflect that. Otherwise, giving public schools the leeway to charge as they see fit is a very unwise move and could be subject to abuse.
