Tertiary institutions bill passed at last

Education planners and investors can now sigh with relief. The Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Bill became law last week after President Museveni assented to it. The Bill repeals the 1970 Makerere University Act, the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) Statute 1989, the Uganda Management Institute (UMI) Statute 1992 and the Institute of Teacher Education Kyambogo (ITEK) Statute of 1993. It also creates the National Council of Higher Education and streamlines the establishment, administration and standards of universities and other institutions of higher learning. What this means to planners, investors and other parties is that it will be easier to register and control standards of universities and other institutions based on the guidelines therein. Gone are the days when private university proprietors had to contend with interim licences due to lack of relevant laws. Great concern has also been raised about the quality of education being offered by some private institutions, particularly the universities. All this has now come to an end just like the policy of having the President as the Chancellor of public universities which is also abolished by the same act. Passing the new law did not, however, stop President Museveni from presiding over last Friday's graduation ceremony at Makerere University during which over 2,500 students were awarded degrees and diplomas. University officials said Museveni will also preside over next October's ceremony, which will certainly be the last for any head of state. President Museveni re-affirmed government's commitment to support private universities last week. He said it is necessary because of their role in economic growth and the country. Speaking as chief guest at the 8th graduation ceremony for the Islamic University in Uganda, Mbale, Museveni said three government universities will open by the year 2003. Of course he was referring to the proposed Kyambogo, Gulu and Open Universities. Meanwhile, the re-designed registration forms for 'O' and 'A' level candidates are now ready. Some headteachers must have already collected them for their candidates. The new forms are compliant with the new UNEB computers acquired last year and the Optical Map Reader (scanner) which makes them easier to process, according to the board secretary, Mr. Matthew Bukenya. The headteachers who have not yet collected the new forms for their candidates need not waste any more time to avoid regrets! Talking of regrets, the 12 students of St. Aloysious Girls SS in Kabale must be regretting why they got involved in acts of indiscipline including lesbianism. The students were expelled last Friday and must now be idling at home when their colleagues are busy writing the end of term exams. It was indeed such acts of indiscipline that forced UPDF soldiers to intervene to stop a fight between students of Lake Mburo SS and Alliance High School in Mbarara district. The fight broke out after a football match which Alliance lost to Lake Mburo at Kakyeka. Alliance students claimed the match was flawed and four students were injured in the ensuing fight. When will such acts of indiscipline end? Ends