By Ahura Mujuni Mark

The ministry of Education and Sports has clarified on media reports indicating that Universal Secondary  Schools are set for closure over lack of funds .The ministry says that the schools will not close as alleged but instead calls upon parents to support students under the program with basic education needs not tuition .

The Ministry of Education and Sports  says that it has agreed with the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to release funds to USE schools by the beginning of each term and NOT on a monthly basis.

The ministry’s statement states that the  funds for this term were released in February, 2013.

” It is true that when Government released USE and Uganda Post O’level Education and Training Programme (UPOLET) funds, capitation grants for Senior one and Senior five students were not released. This release was not effected because the head count exercise is yet to be carried out to establish the exact number of students.” The ministry says

The ministry says that the  preparation for the headcount exercise in about 1,500 schools implementing USE is in its final stages.

Government, however, appeals to parents to provide for their children’s well-being by providing lunch, exercise books, uniform and all other scholastic materials required for the well being of students in USE and UPOLET funded schools.