Sports admissions need to be revised!

Aug 19, 2014

It was one of those programs applauded right from inception. Launched in 1998, the Scholarships for Talented Sportsmen Scheme in public universities, was aimed at aiding outstanding sports talents academically.

By James Bakama

It was one of those programs applauded right from inception. Launched in 1998, the Scholarships for Talented Sportsmen Scheme in public universities, was aimed at aiding outstanding sports talents academically.


The program, which offered beneficiaries an extra five points, was supposed to be a boost to a sector where the bulk of the best talent hails from needy families unable to meet ever rising university fees.

But 16 years later, question marks are being raised over the effectiveness of the scheme. The latest list of students admitted to public universities under the government sponsorship scheme reveals that Ntare School, St Mary’s Kisubi and Kings College Budo have the lion’s share.

St Mary’s College Kitende, an East African sports giant and Kibuli SS, which is one of Uganda’s most successful football schools, jointly have only five students on the list of 67.

Schools like Arua Public who were Copa Coca Cola Schools Championship runners- up and other athletics giants like St Joseph’s Layibi don’t feature on the list.

Commissioner of Sports Omara Apitta said they consider students who have participated in national championships and international events like the East Africa Secondary School Games. Apitta explained that the respective national federations are supposed to confirm applicants’ involvement in sports.

National Council of Sports receives the list before the students sit for their final exams. The names are then forwarded to the ministry where the final selection is done by the University Admissions Board.

Critics of this system say it mainly benefits upscale schools that are never a talent base for sports.

“The biggest sports stars world over never have enough time in academics. So, they should be aided with less demanding admission requirements,” argues an educationist John Kyewalyanga.

Kyewalyanga insists that there should be a system that brings such benefits within the reach of serious sports talents.

“As things stand, Stephen Kiprotich, Ibrahim Sekagya or boxer Kassim Ouma would be locked out by this scholarship system.”

Schools like Kisubi, Budo, Gayaza and Ntare that have high academic standards swept the sports scholarships for their involvement in elitist disciplines.

They dominated disciplines like rugby, badminton, hockey, lawn tennis and table tennis at the last East Africa Games. Justus Mugisha, a headmaster of another sports giant-Standard High School, who also serves as East Africa Secondary Schools Federation president, warns that the traditional sports schools are destined for even worse times.

“We are introducing swimming. So expect even more students from Seeta High, Gayaza and Kisubi on that list,” revealed Mugisha.

Private universities have to the contrary grasped the concept of talent development better. They have outreach programs for serious sports talent.

“We want to encourage more talented sports people to come to Bugema and enjoy what the likes of world junior gold medallist Joshua Cheptegei are enjoying,” says Bugema university publicist Alice Nakalembe.

RELATED STORIES:

Kitende dumped out of COPA

Kitende, Kibuli & Mvara storm Copa quarters
 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});