The role of parenting in higher education needs to be emphasized

Mar 20, 2017

Higher education needs to be redefined to meet the changing times of the job market

By Kiapi K. Frederick

In response to the New Vision dated March 17, 2017 with a mega education pullout, several key stakeholders and scholars gave their views on the country's educational sector and how to better it in the changing global job market and to enhance its competitiveness.

This is very commendable by the Vision Group in today's information age and the search for better educational opportunities not only in Uganda but also globally. Note to say, our education system has improved in terms of enrollment at all levels with its challenges such as high costs, sub standard institutions, poor pay for the teachers, high rates of drop outs and limited funding to the sector.

All the above must be addressed through a multi-stakeholder approach and very often now and then the one who pays the bill for his/her child to get an education is left out, that is the parent.

Its upon this background that time is now to start engaging parents in the educational paths of their children in higher institutions of learning to be able to act as a link between the academic institution and the student.

Over the years policy makers tend to view parents as a unit that is not important in the planning processes and this has led to far reaching consequences in the sector that has now been turned from a service oriented node towards human development to profit making.

The core of one going to school as Prof. Abdu Kasozi often says is to build a class of citizens that can cause change in society. His writing need to be keenly taken into account by the sector movers at the education ministry.

To state him clearly "high education institutions are the factories where skilled workers are manufactured," but this to be achievable parents must be fully involved.

As the country, readies itself to middle income status 2020 and its realization of Uganda VISION 2040, high education needs to be redefined to meet the changing times of the job market and this can only be if and only when a species called a parent gets into the picture in making sure what is taught can help his/her child (ren) to stand out and be a change maker in society that is being so diverse in its development processes.

Furthermore, voices in the recent past have called on government to increase funding to skilling and revamping of the technical institution as a means of enhancing socio-economic transformation though this is being met with some resistance that comes with cries of no resources at the centre while the private sector is investing heavily in so many none-core science and technical education courses.

If correctly said, Uganda today has around 29 Universities majority focusing on humanities and parents are paying huge sums to have their children get an education but in the end come out with cries of no employment opportunities. Parents must stop playing back stage roles and become fully involved in their children's education path. 

High institutions of learning too have a duty to make sure parents are involved in their activities from day one not only being called when their children are graduating 3-4 years after. Having parents on the academic organs that govern their universities will cost them nothing than having politicians.

To this end, the promoters of the Uganda National Parental Forum will in future be hosting a High Education Parental Forum (HEPFO) aimed at bridging the gap between the academia and the parents.   

Article was co-authored by Tom Maani Bamuheire, founders -Uganda National Parental Forum

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