Look for practical jobs

IN HIS New Year’s speech President Museveni argued that the education system needs to respond to the actual vacancies in the labour market.He said it was not useful for schools to churn out graduates in disciplines where there are few jobs yet there is a huge demand for doctors, science teachers, accountants, auditors and engineers. Museveni is absolutely correct to state the education system must gear itself to the needs of the labour market. But it is also true that parents and students must themselves be realistic about the job opportunities available to young people today.Many students fail to qualify for Makerere or other universities but squeeze in through private placement. Yet, as Museveni pointed out, they will end up getting a degree in a subject that will not help them get a job.However such students could easily have undertaken practical courses where work is almost guaranteed. Teaching is the most obvious example but there are many others. As the Plan for Modernisation of Agriculture takes off, there will be a huge number of jobs available for smart young agricultural technicians who can act as extension workers or farm managers.In the health sector, there are many training institutions and lots of jobs for nurses, midwives and laboratory technicians. As manufacturing continues growing, there will be more demand for technicians. The housing industry will need plumbers, electricians and air conditioning engineers.Parents and students should not just aim at getting fancy degrees that are no guarantee of a job. They should be realistic and seek practical qualifications where a growing economy will ensure that they find work.