Universities told to introduce online courses

By Francis Emorut and Andrew Senyonga    
         
Universities in the country have been urged to invest heavily in online education to enable Ugandans access higher education.

The call was made by the state minister for higher education Dr. John C. Muyingo.
Muyingo pointed out that so many students are struggling to acquire admissions in the seven public and 29 private universities.

He explained that due to few vacancies available in the universities, some parents are forced to take their children to foreign universities in the UK, India and others.

To address the gap, he appealed to the universities in the country to offer courses on online.
“You should exploit online courses to enable Ugandans access higher education and accommodate the surging numbers of undergraduates,” Muyingo said.

He asked the universities to take advantage of modern technology like foreign universities have done.
The minister made remarks during the 11th Kampala University graduation ceremony at Ggaba, a Kampala suburb on Thursday.

trueEbullient newly graduates at Kampala University graduation ceremony  in Ggaba, Kampala. Picture by Francis Emorut

Over 2872 graduates were awarded certificates, diplomas and degrees.

Of the 2872 graduates 1690 were male making it 58.4% while 1082 were female representing 41.6%.

Muyingo also tasked universities to intensify on research especially whether the country can survive without aid after development partners have threatened to cut aid over Anti-Homosexuality law which President Yoweri Museveni assented last month.

“You should be innovative and be a centre of research avenue to provide solutions to the communities,” he said.
“This time I want universities to conduct research whether the country can survive without aid after donors have cut aid or the effect is minimal,” he stated.

He also encouraged universities to invest in conflict and peace resolution so that students acquire skills in conflict resolution.

Prof. Badru Katerega, the vice chancellor of Kampala University advised grandaunts to put the country first above personal gains.