The National Higher Education Policy, which is still a draft, will deprive government sponsored students of some privileges.
Among the unwelcomed changes (by government sponsored students of course) is the proposal to scrap off accommodation and food allowance.
Government sponsored students may in the nearby future have to foot their own food and accommodation bills if the policy comes to pass.
This will enable the government to save at least UGX4.32 billion annually on food and UGX6.12 billion on accommodation.
The sum saved will in turn be used by government on other national developments projects.
The National Higher Education Policy draft has caused an uproar among government sponsored students across the country.
We have often times advised the government to lessen its ‘unnecessary’ expenditure in order to save and lower the debt burden too.
Many issues have been pinpointed at, such as scrapping the free cars given to legislators.
Whether the cars are a necessity, or if they (MPs) can or cannot afford them, all did not matter.
Some will argue that at least MPs are given salaries and can afford to buy their own cars.
Speaking of affordability, I wonder if govt sponsorship is a reward for academic excellence or an incentive to the poor.
Thousands of students are admitted annually on government sponsorship due to their outstanding academic performance, needless to add that majority come from well-to-do schools.
Government caters for their tuition, functional fees, food and accommodation bills.
If you have been to university of late, you will agree with me that being on government sponsorship has turned lucrative.
Some government sponsored students have turned into landlords. These rent out their rooms and top up in order to afford luxurious hostels.
Those genuinely benefiting, forgive me to say, they are indeed poor. And these are the minority.
It is demeaning to assume that a family whose financial burden has been lessened, can’t afford feeding and paying hall accommodation.
I am not saying that every family can afford this, but government sponsorship is a reward for academic excellence and not an incentive to the poor.
If the latter be the case, government should think of introducing ‘children of the poor’ sponsorship scheme.
