Published 1 day ago • loading... • Updated 2 hours ago

Raising school fees torments many Africans. Some expect the Catholic Church to do more to help

In Kampala, Uganda, a parent was denied her son's enrollment at a Catholic private school in 2025 due to unpaid tuition requiring 60% payment upfront.
This situation reflects widespread financial strain as many families in sub-Saharan Africa prioritize school fees above medical bills amid a 2023 GDP per capita of about $1,000 in Uganda.
Tuition at Catholic schools like Uganda Martyrs' Secondary dropped from $800 to about $600 per term as enrollment neared 5,000, yet many parents still struggle to pay on time.
In 2023, the World Bank found that more than half of adults in sub-Saharan Africa consider paying school fees a higher priority than other costs, while education authorities highlight the difficulties involved in controlling tuition rates.
These financial pressures contribute to high dropout rates in the region and raise concerns the Catholic Church risks pricing out the working-class families it traditionally serves.

Insights by Ground AI

Does this summary seem wrong?

43 Articles

All

Left

Center

Right

The Hindu

Lean Left

Rising tuition fees in Catholic schools push African families to the brink

Catholic schools in Uganda face criticism for high tuition fees, risking exclusion of poor families, sparking concerns of privatisation.

2 hours ago·India

Read Full Article

Alabama Live

Center

High school fees torment many Africans. Some expect more help from the Catholic Church

Catholic schools have long been a pillar of affordable but high-quality education, especially for poor families.

15 hours ago·Alabama, United States

Read Full Article

Latestly

Right

Raising School Fees Torments Many Africans, Some Expect Catholic Church to Do More to Help

Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. A crying parent with an unpaid tuition balance walked into the staff room of a Catholic private school and begged the teachers to help enroll her son. World News | Raising School Fees Torments Many Africans, Some Expect Catholic Church to Do More to Help.

17 hours ago

Read Full Article