Government Sponsorship, especially on national merit, is only benefiting children of the rich, says Thomas Tayebwa, the Deputy speaker of parliament.
Tayebwa who was speaking at the final Makerere University centennial celebrations on 6th October said that the rich are benefiting more from the government sponsorship scheme.
According to Tayebwa, students from expensive and academically sound schools are the main beneficiaries of government sponsorship.
Tayebwa says the rich take their children to these expensive schools, and in the end it is them that get government sponsorship.
He added that the slots that go to the poor are through district quota system and are very few compared to the demand.
The deputy speaker of parliament says they are drafting a proposal through which government sponsorship will be redirected to the poor.
Responding to Tayebwa, President Museveni said there is an education review commission in place that is addressing the concern.
Among other proposed changes to the education sector is the scrapping off of accommodation and meals for government sponsored students.
These proposals are enshrined in the National Higher Education Policy draft that recently caused alarm among government sponsored students.
Government sponsored students, whether they are the real beneficiaries or not, insisted that they need accommodation and meals citing poverty as the main reason.
Related: Is Government Sponsorship a Reward for Academic Excellence or an Incentive to the Poor?
