Several students studying in various private schools in Bor town of Jonglei state have welcomed a directive by the government regulating the tuition fees structure for primary and secondary schools following an outcry by parents over fee hikes in the country.  

Following the reopening of all learning institutions in April after a year-long national Covid-19 lockdown, private schools in Bor increased tuition fees by over 50 percent per term, citing inflation.

Last week the general education ministry issued an order directing all schools to charge a day scholar an annual fee not exceeding 80,000 SSP, while those in boarding schools will pay 200,000 SSP per annum. 

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj on Friday, several students decried the fees hikes, saying the recent government order will make education affordable. 

A student at Greenbell Academy, Atong Ding Bol, welcomed the fees cut, lamenting that turnout among her colleagues remained low weeks after schools reopened due to high fees. 

“Fees are too high. They want us to pay 50,000 SSP per term. Our parents cannot afford it. Farms have been destroyed by the floods so our parents do not have a place to work,” Ding said. 

Ayuen Deng, another student in Bor, said, “For us to pay 20,000 SSP as fees per term is good because if we are to pay, let say 40,000 SSP, what will we eat at home? Prices in the markets are too high. So, the government order is good.”

Royal High School student William Kur while welcoming the fees regulation, urged the government to engage the private schools to avoid any inconveniences. 

For his part, Jacob Ateny, the Secretary-General of the private schools union in Jonglei, decried the government’s move and said it amounted to a denial of access to quality education. 

“As private schools, what we are doing is not profit-making, but we are trying to promote the quality of education in the country,” Ateny said. “As I told you earlier, teachers are deserting their professions for things like charcoal burning. So, we use the little that parents pay as fees to motivate teachers.” 

Ateny, who also serves as the headmaster for Royal High School said while abiding by the government’s regulation is difficult, they will not be compelled to close down all the schools but engage the government for common ground on the standoff. 

On Thursday last week, the country’s union of private schools said they will lay down their tools if the government forcibly imposes its order. 

Lual Monyluak Dau, the Jonglei education minister, said his ministry will start inspecting all the schools to ensure that the order regulating tuition fees is observed. 

He warned that any school which defies government order will be forced to close.