Technical education to get sh60b next year

Apr 30, 2008

THE Government will spend sh61b on technical education in the 2008/09 financial year. The higher education state minister, Gabriel Opio, said the money would be used to equip the institutions.

By Emmanuel Kajubu

THE Government will spend sh61b on technical education in the 2008/09 financial year. The higher education state minister, Gabriel Opio, said the money would be used to equip the institutions.

Some students, Opio noted, were shunning technical education because of limited training facilities.

Opio made the remarks last week during the 6th graduation ceremony of Uganda Technical College Kichwamba in Kabarole district.

A total of 192 students, 17 of them women, were awarded certificates and diplomas in carpentry, electrical, civil and mechanical engineering.

The minister pointed out that the economy was stagnant because of few people with technical skills.

The Government, Opio said, had drafted the Business, Technical, Vocational Education and Training Bill, which would provide a framework for governing technical education.

He said the Cabinet had approved a policy to increase the number of community polytechnics.

But Opio was unimpressed by most Kabarole district leaders who shunned the ceremony.

“They should attend such functions because they are important.” The principal, Joram Adutu, requested the ministry to extend sponsorship to higher technical diploma courses.

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