The Uganda National Examination Board has given students a green light to demand an explanation from head teachers who are charging unofficial examination fees.
The green light stems from reports that private schools are charging extra fees high above the fee stipulated by UNEB.
A circular released on Monday by Mathew Bukenya, the UNEB secretary states that some schools are charging an extra fee ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 shillings.
According to UNEB, candidates registering for the Primary leaving Examinations must pay 40,000 shillings for the four subjects, while those registering for Ordinary level examinations are expected to pay a minimum of 46,300 shillings for eight subject or 56,000 shillings for the ten subjects.
Students registering for Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education are expected to pay a minimum of 41,900 shillings and a maximum of 50,900 shillings.
The UNEB secretary explains that any variations must be pegged only on the number of subjects offered.
But some private schools are charging extra fees ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 shillings. Several students unable to raise this money on time end up either paying a fine for late registration or missing the registration exercise altogether.
Bukenya warns that this action is unacceptable and must be challenged.
But some teachers disagree with Bukenya. They argue that the extra money charged on top of the UNEB stipulated figure is intended to meet the administrative costs of registration exercise.
Joseph Zziwa of Eliana Junior School in Nateete admits that he has been forced to charge an extra 10,000 shillings on top of the official UNEB examination fee to support the transportation of the examination registration forms to and from the school.
He also says that the extra money charged is used to organize seminars for the students prior to the examination season.
Vincent Kawuka, headmaster of Jovic boarding primary school, in Kampala says the extra cost he charges above the UNEB registration fees is used to process photographs of candidates and buy food so that pupils do not have to go back home during examinations.
However, Kawuka is not comfortable revealing how much extra he charges but maintains it's agreed upon with parents.
