It is 'criminal for students to offer sex for marks'

By Andrew Masinde & Innocent Anguyo

KAMPALA - Education minister Jessica Alupo has warned students against offering sex to teachers in exchange for marks, saying it is a criminal act that is subject to punishment.

The minister said such behavior would deal a huge blow to education standards in the country.

She made the remarks at the launch of the National Council of Higher Education (NCHE) exhibition at UMA Hall in Kampala on Friday.

“I have heard of cases where students offer sex for good results and also seduce lectures to give them free marks,” she said.

“This is a warning to all those doing it, it is a criminal offence that is punishable.”

Alupo said it is unethical for students to get marks they have not worked for through illicit means such as seduction of teachers.

She advised higher institutions of learning to not only emphasize intellectual growth among students but to also instill moral uprightness in their graduates.

Universities, the minister suggested, should work with the private sector in a bid to establish the skills needs of the job market so that graduates can be absorbed into gainful employment immediately after being passed out.

‘Universities should conduct research whose findings can be utilized by industries. To do this, they must work together based on mutual interest.”

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Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi reciving a gift from Vice Chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU) Rev. Can. Dr. John Senyonyi at the exibition as education minister Jessica Alupo (L) looks on. PHOTO/Deo Ganyana

Vice President Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi also attended the launch.

He said government recognizes the value of education, and that Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) were established to improve literacy levels in the country.

“Institutions should be relevant to the country’s development through providing more skilled and practical manpower because the world today needs practical employees.

“Universities should devote more resources in research and career guidance to help the children to get relevant courses,” said the VP.

The NCHE exhibition, which ran until Sunday, attracted 60 institutions of higher learning from across the country.

This year’s trade show – the seventh –  was organised under the theme, “Skilling Uganda through innovative and quality training.”

According to Prof Opuda-Asibo, the Executive Director of NCHE, the annual event provides parents, students and the general public with the opportunity to access information on recognized higher education institutions.

“They [the public] can get information on admission requirements, courses offered, fees structures and employment prospects relating to certain courses.”