By kasule joel
Schools across the country officially open this week on Monday 18th September 2023 for third term. Parents have been seen flocking shopping centres and supermarkets to buy scholastic materials for their children.
Some parents have complained about the lack of enough time to raise school fees for their children as the holidays were short lived. Learners have been in holidays for just about two to three weeks, however, the school term must start as per the set date on the Ministry of Education school calendar 2023 released earlier in 2022.
In the capital, Kampala parents and their children are hooked with school requirements shopping lists. Many are also seen with huge luggage ie metalic suites,brooms,mattress,osafia bags helping their children to report back to school.
For most parents school fees is not the only issue, scholastic materials are also too expensive to afford and this has left them on edge for how they will handle the needs of their children. Ms.Lubega Prossy a tomato vendor in Owino market says, the economy is too tight to the extent that 1 book costs 3000shs yet many students are being taken care of by single mothers which pauses an even heavier burden on them . “I have a daughter at kings college Buddo but I am compelled to use 900k to 1m for only scholastic materials”, she added.
Mugisha a father of 5 while doing last minute shopping for his children in the Kikuubo shopping area said that the prices of scholastic materials are increasingly becoming unaffordable especially for parents who have more than one child. He advised fellow parents to make purchases at their Local shops and shopping areas especially those with few Children. This is because they are at an advantage of saving on transport that would have brought them to the city shopping center. Also in your local area chances are that your local shop attendant can give you items on credit and or even cut prices because they know you rather than come to Kampala where sellers are unknown to you and prices are non- negotiable.
Third term will end on 1st December for all students except candidates classes whose final exams are slated to begin on 13th october 2023