EDITOR—This is in response to Nathan Were’s letter entitled “Prof. Barya’s MUK policies contradictory” published on March 5. I wish to clarify that the Makerere University Council comprises representatives from the ministries of education, local government, university academicians, administrative and support staff and representatives from the student leadership.

With this varied composition, the council vigilantly discusses its policies in consultation with the representatives of its key stakeholders.

It is not true that Makerere has an average student to teacher ratio of 1:500. Our latest statistics indicate an average lecturer to student ratio of 1:21. For example, the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) recommends a lecturer to student ratio of 1:8 for Medicine yet Makerere’s current ratio is 1:4. Furthermore the NCHE recommends 1:25 as the standard ratio for Arts/Social Sciences and yet Makerere’s current ratio is 1:24, which is satisfactory. In essence, Makerere’s lecturers to student ratios are not only above stipulated standards but also in tandem with Makerere’s strategic plan to shift from teacher-centred instruction to learner-centred pedagogy.

Regarding the issue of the vice-chancellor’s move to lay off part-time lecturers, the facts are as follows:
The university management was tasked by the University Council to undertake academic, administrative and financial reforms. To this effect, the vice chancellor constituted an academic programmes restructuring committee, headed by Professor Frederick Jjuuko. This committee is revising the academic programmes to identify which should be merged or harmonised.

In lieu of the restructuring committee’s progress and recommendations thus far, the vice-chancellor foresaw a reduction in the number of academic programmes by 30% –40% by May.

The Quality Assurance Policy Framework which was approved by the University Council on the recommendation of Senate, the minimum workload for an academic staff is 10 contact hours. One contact hour is equal to one lecture hour, two tutorial hours and two practical hours. So a minimum workload for an academic member of staff is 10 lecture hours or its equivalent. The implementation of the above academic reforms, and as full-time lecturers fulfil their minimum 10 contact hours workload, there will gradually be less need for part-time lecturers.

Additionally, we are also integrating the use of ICT to conduct e-learning in education, veterinary medicine, among other disciplines. Whenever the university advertises vacant academic positions, part-time lecturers, who meet the minimum criteria, are always encouraged to apply for these full-time positions. Regarding the upcountry campuses, Makerere’s upcountry centres are only in Jinja and Fort-Portal and not in West Nile. We advertised for and specifically recruited full-time staff to run programmes in the upcountry campuses. Therefore, Makerere did not task the members of staff at the main campus to teach at both centres.

I therefore wish to reassure all stakeholders that the reforms at Makerere being undertaken by the university management and are focused on strengthening the quality of education at the university.
Ritah Namisango
Acting Public Relations Officer
Makerere University