Publication date: Wednesday, 12th September, 2007
By Anne Mugisa
THE Uganda National Council for Science has asked the Government to change the school curriculum to develop science and technology at early stages.
The executive secretary, Dr. Peter Ndemere, on Monday said they were working on a $30m (about sh48b) project to address research, curriculum development and the transfer of knowledge to the market.
The five-year project started February this year.
Ndemera said the council had completed consultations on two science policies. These are the science, technology and innovation policy, and the biotechnology and bio-safety policy.
“They will give guidance on the curriculum for schools,” Ndemere told journalists at the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala.
“We want to look at how we can define needs and opportunities for businesses and how our universities can adopt themselves to the needs of the time. We want to demystify science because many young people don’t like it.”
Ndemere said the council had also organised several pre-CHOGM science activities including a symposium to collect views for the summit.
The symposium will be held at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology.
Other activities include an exhibition at the Uganda Manufacturers Association Show Grounds at Lugogo to show case developments in research and technology.
A science school quiz in which two schools from each regions will participate will also be organised.
The director of the British Council, Richard Weyers, advised Uganda and other African countries to invest in science and technology and develop entrepreneurial capacity for advancement.
He said manpower must be developed to carry out scientific development.
“Machines do not design science, but people do. Until the necessary people are developed to do it, scientific development will not occur.”
He added that Uganda needs to be part of the global scientific community with significant numbers of the youth moving to science fields.
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