Uganda working through its representative in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), Wandera Ogalo thought an amendment of the Inter University Council of East Africa in order to have a unified mode of accrediting higher institutions of learning in the region and create a one stop center for all institutions in the region.

We hear Ogalo wanted the head offices of the council to be based in Kampala. The line ministers from Rwanda, Tanzania, and Burundi led by Kenya’s East African Affairs minister, Peter Munya, disagreed with the amendments.

Uganda had wanted the law to be amended to allow foreign institutions to be accredited at the regional level. However the ministers rejected the proposed close saying that foreign powers could be hiding behind Uganda to impose their education policies and wishes on East Africa.

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The chairman African region and executive director, Cavendish University, Dr. Ketrine Salati, many courses need huge sums of money to be taught yet they are paying heavy taxes to the government making it difficult for them to have some of these courses at these institutions.

Dr. Ketrine also adds that the university that is slated to have its first graduation ceremony towards the end of the week has already embraced the east African community common market by spread its branches to Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda.

He says they are also establishing learning centers in upcountry areas, with two already running in Soroti and Kisoro districts.

By Isaac Senabulya

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As a result in the increased cost of living and high cost of essential goods and services in the country, some schools have decided to suspend some of their programs they deem less important as the way of cutting costs to save the escalating commodity prices and contrite on education.

A number of schools have suspended development projects and changed students menu and suspend academic trips in a bid to save money to run their schools for the next three months.

The school directors say they have been hit by the inflation which shot to 21.4% last term which they say increased long after the school fees had been set.

There is growing concern among the schools what they will do now that a 100 kilogram bag of posho has risen from 120000 to 150000 shillings and a 100 kilogram of beans also rose from 180000 to 200000 shillings at the beginning of the term.

The assistant commissioner for secondary Education Francis Agula is asking the schools to redesign their priorities in order to be able to complete the term with the resources at their disposal.

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In an exclusive interview, the registrar Wilberforce Watisala say the centre had been up by the government with the view of promoting technical education in the country.

Uganda technical college Elgon offered technical courses especially in the fields of mechanical, electrical and water engineering.

Watisala said they run both diploma and certificate courses and have about 7000 students. On the relevancy of the college, Watisala observed that the future of the country now depends on industrialization and graduates from such colleges have a big role to play.

Ultimate Media

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The chairperson of the organizing committee and assistant executive director national council for higher education Fenny Birungi says the show will be at UMA show grounds Lugogo between September 21st and 25th of 2011.

She added that close to 108 institutions will take part in the exhibition of the various services they offer. Fenny Birungi says inadequate facilities low pay and the large number of students are some o0f the challenges hampering success 0f higher institutions of learning in Uganda.

He explained that low pay has forced lecturers to teach in more than one institution in order to make ends meet. University also face a challenge of poor infrastructure such as lecture rooms, laboratories and theater rooms.

Birungi also mentioned high tuition fees a challenge on the side of the parents. He however said that government is introducing a loan scheme to ease fees burden on parents.

Birungi argued Ugandan to turn up in big numbers on the exhibition and learn more about higher education services in Uganda.
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Members of parliament sitting on the social services committee have agreed to pass the ministry for education and sports budget following a meeting Prime Minister Amama Mbabazi on Friday.

Sources say that Mbabazi on Friday evening met these MPs including opposition MPs Alice Alaso (FDC), shadow education minister Franc Akello and DP’s Joseph Sewungu (Kalungu west) at his office for a meeting.

The   committee chaired by Sam Lyomoki (NRM) last week refused to approve the education and sports ministry budget accusing its leaders headed by Minister Jessica Alupo of declining to reveal government’s position on increase of teachers’ salaries.

Sources said that in that meeting which lasted three hours, Mbabazi demanded an explanation from the MPs as to why they continue to sabotage ministers’ budgets, and advised them to stop.

The sources said that Mbabazi asked the members to address the issue to entire civil service payment structure comprehensively; adding that the issue of teachers salary increase is now in the hands of the president.

The MPs then agreed to re-summon the education ministers on Wednesday to pass the budget and forget all about their previous stand about teachers’ salary increase until Museveni pronounces himself on it after negotiations.

By Isaac Senabulya

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According to the regional manager, UWEZO East Africa, Dr. Sara J. Ruto, the findings indicate that 30% of school going children in P1-P3 don’t know how to read and write which is attributed to poor national curriculum in respective countries and neglect by parents.

Dr. Ruto who is also a Prof. at the University of Nairobi states that though Uganda is lagging behind Kenya, it has been able to register some changes in the sector which are now yielding fruits.

She adds that absenteeism in these countries puts Uganda at 10%, Kenya 13% while Tanzania was not graded.

In the past, there has been talk of Uganda having the best quality education due to the high number of Kenyan and Tanzania students in Uganda education institutions.

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The country co-coordinator, UWEZO, Richard Sewakilyanga told journalists in Kampala that a survey carried out in 80 districts across the country indicates that up country pupils in P.1-P.3 can not ready and write.

 UWEZO is calling upon the government to change the way of teaching children at the early stages to enable the young grasp what they are taught.

The organisation says parents should also always take full responsibility in helping their kids learn when they go to school.

Sewakilyanga says that though 1.5 million kids enter P.1 but only half a million complete P.7 with even most of the kids who complete P.7 don’t make it to other higher levels.

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The parliamentary social service committee had earlier threatened to withhold budgetary allocations until last solution is reached concerning the issue of teachers.

In a meeting between the committee and ministry, Chairperson Sam Lyomoki said the ministry’s budget will not be approved until the repository for increment for teachers’ salaries is presented.

On the other hand, minister for education and sports Jessica Alupo told the committee that her ministry alone can’t present solutions to the teachers’ grievances.

Alupo said her ministry is still in discussion with the teacher on how best to solve their issues. Alupo also noted that an inter-ministerial committee comprising the minister of education, minister of public service and minister of gender has been constituted to address teachers’ problems.

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Adolf Mwesige, the local government minister said that Uganda need people with vocational skills in order transform the world.

Local government minister, Adolf Mwesige

He was today speaking during a ground breaking ceremony of Kisomoro Technical School in Bunyangabo county, Kabarole district.

The Kabarole district LCV boos Richard Rwabuhinga said that Bunyangabo county has received over sh 400m from the presidential pledge which will uplift the standard of education in the district

The Kabarole woman Member of Parliament Victoria Rusoke urged youth to change their attitude towards vocational schools.

Rusoke said if they went to universities and other institutions they would end up on the street looking for jobs.

She said with technical education, students get jobs the day they join the school until they die. She said this was the only way to go for the youth in Uganda.

Vocational education covers areas like agro-machines repairs and services, motor vehicle repairs, maintenance and general fitting, general building construction, brick-making, laying and concrete practice, plus carpentry and joinery.

By Rogers Sunday

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