Leave Makerere alone
Aug 22, 2009
EDITOR—I have read with amazement an article where some parents want to sue Makerere University for increasing the pass mark from 50 to 60%. At first I thought it was April 1 but when I read on, I realised that they had even talked to the MPs of the soc
EDITOR—I have read with amazement an article where some parents want to sue Makerere University for increasing the pass mark from 50 to 60%. At first I thought it was April 1 but when I read on, I realised that they had even talked to the MPs of the social services committee! This is going too far.
A parent fighting the university for trying to improve standards? God bless this country! Makerere University is an institution of international repute and high standards must be maintained.
That is why its ranking is increasing whereas other institutions in Uganda that people believe are better cannot even appear on the list of the top 100 universities in Africa.
People who have studied in universities in America and Europe say the pass mark is even higher. But they always get the marks. Even top secondary schools in Uganda have 60% as their pass mark.
So, for an MP to listen to such an argument and even give such a groups a hearing is absurd, to say the least. So, what will they petition next? That exams be leaked to students so that all get first class?
I can see MPs heading a demonstration to force universities to do so! No wonder, people who get first class degrees from some of the so-called universities end up performing poorly at the Law Development Centre.
Let us do our part. Parents should pay school fees and upkeep and let students do what they are supposed to do at the university —read, do assignments, research and they will even score 80%.
What I have found out is that by increasing the pass mark to 60%, post-graduate students are now working and reading harder to attain the grade.
All this results in better graduates. If some parents want their children to remain mediocre, let them take them to inferior universities. They should kindly leave Makerere alone.
Nixon Binshobeire
Kampala
A parent fighting the university for trying to improve standards? God bless this country! Makerere University is an institution of international repute and high standards must be maintained.
That is why its ranking is increasing whereas other institutions in Uganda that people believe are better cannot even appear on the list of the top 100 universities in Africa.
People who have studied in universities in America and Europe say the pass mark is even higher. But they always get the marks. Even top secondary schools in Uganda have 60% as their pass mark.
So, for an MP to listen to such an argument and even give such a groups a hearing is absurd, to say the least. So, what will they petition next? That exams be leaked to students so that all get first class?
I can see MPs heading a demonstration to force universities to do so! No wonder, people who get first class degrees from some of the so-called universities end up performing poorly at the Law Development Centre.
Let us do our part. Parents should pay school fees and upkeep and let students do what they are supposed to do at the university —read, do assignments, research and they will even score 80%.
What I have found out is that by increasing the pass mark to 60%, post-graduate students are now working and reading harder to attain the grade.
All this results in better graduates. If some parents want their children to remain mediocre, let them take them to inferior universities. They should kindly leave Makerere alone.
Nixon Binshobeire
Kampala