Govt lauds vice chancellors for promoting quality education

EDUCATION

The Government has hailed the vice-chancellors of both public and private universities for unity in promoting quality education in Uganda.

According to the minister in charge of general duties in the Office of Prime Minister (OPM), Mary Karooro Okurut, the government is proud to see vice-chancellors from different universities coming together to find solutions to gaps in the education system of high institutions of learning.

"We are highly impressed with the unity exhibited by the vice-chancellors of different universities and not fighting each other as competitors. This is a good sign of education in Uganda," Karooro Okurut said.

The minister made the remarks during the 9th Uganda vice-chancellors' Forum Annual Conference held under the theme "Higher Education in Uganda" at Kampala International University (KIU) campus.

Karooro told the audience that the government has created a good and conducive atmosphere for public and private universities to thrive and promote quality education.

The forum attracted over 30 vice-chancellors in the country and within the East African region.

A cross-section of participants during the 9th vice-chancellors' forum conference at Kampala International University campus

According to the vice-chancellor of Kampala International University, Dr. Mouhamad Mpezamihigo, the forum will address issues such as the expansion of higher institutions of learning, increased enrolment of students, low staffing levels and how to promote quality education and others.

In his presentation on higher education in Uganda, Dr. A.B Kasozi insisted that A'Level education should be scrapped because it a wastage of resources.

Dr Kasozi defended his position and outlined reasons why A'Level should be scrapped among them it would create more broadly educated graduates, reduce and eliminate the massive wastage of students at critical points of the education system, it would raise the country's gross enrolment and science ratios and others.

He cited countries such as Kenya, Canada, the United States, and India which have done away with the A'Level system of education and wondered why Uganda shouldn't follow suit.  

However, the vice-chancellor of KIU Mpezamihigo cautioned that the scrapping of A'Level education needs to be studied by all stakeholders  in order to come up with a harmonised position.

"It's not writing off but we need to have a conversation to avoid gambling and find ourselves in trouble," Mpezamihigo said.