Church Under Pressure: Soaring School Fees in Africa Spark Calls for Catholic Intervention

Reporting by iNewsAfrica East Africa Bureau

Amid rising education costs across Africa, the Catholic Church—long praised for providing accessible schooling—is facing growing calls to take action as its institutions increasingly shift toward unaffordable tuition models. Parents and education advocates are urging the Church to recommit to its social mission and prevent millions of children from being priced out of quality education.

• Catholic schools in Africa, once seen as affordable havens, are now charging fees that many families can no longer afford.

• In cities like Kampala, tuition at Catholic institutions ranges from $300 to $800 per term, far above what most working families can pay.

• Critics warn the Church risks abandoning its social mandate unless it curbs rising fees and expands access for the poor.

KAMPALA, UGANDA — As education costs surge across sub-Saharan Africa, the Catholic Church is facing mounting criticism for the rising tuition fees at its schools, with many calling for immediate reforms to prevent widespread exclusion of low-income students.

Traditionally known for their moral instruction and academic excellence, Catholic schools in countries like Uganda, Kenya, and Nigeria are becoming increasingly inaccessible. In Kampala, parents are expected to pay between $300 and $800 per term—figures that dwarf the average income in a region where many live on less than $3 per day.

“I had to beg the principal just to let my son sit for exams,” said Rose Namayanja, a mother of three from Uganda. “They told me if I didn’t pay, he would be sent home.”

The shift toward higher tuition has sparked outrage among education advocates who argue that Church-run institutions are drifting from their core mission: offering affordable, quality education to underserved communities. Some accuse the Church of operating like private businesses, where only the affluent can afford to attend.

Church leaders defend the rising costs, citing inflation, infrastructure needs, teacher salaries, and competitive pressure from elite private schools. “We are not running a profit-making venture,” said one diocesan official in East Africa. “But without funds, we cannot sustain our operations.”

Despite these challenges, critics believe more must be done. Suggestions include capping school fees, standardizing tuition across parishes, expanding scholarship programs, and building new mission schools for low-income families.

“Education is a human right, not a privilege for the wealthy,” said James Otieno, an education activist in Nairobi. “The Catholic Church cannot claim to serve the poor while locking them out of its classrooms.”

The issue comes at a critical time as Africa grapples with high dropout rates, limited state resources, and a growing youth population. With the Catholic Church being one of the largest non-governmental education providers on the continent, its actions—or inaction—could shape the region’s educational future.

As families struggle and students fall behind, the message from many is clear: the Church must lead not just in faith, but in fairness.

Reporting by iNewsAfrica East Africa Bureau