Makerere to discuss Mamdani book
Jan 29, 2008
MAKERERE University is finally to discuss Prof. Mamdani’s critical book.
By Onesimus Twinamasiko
MAKERERE University is finally to discuss Prof. Mamdani’s critical book.
The book presents an assessment of Makerere University between 1989-2005 when it embraced a private students’ sponsorship scheme.
Deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academic affairs Dr. Lillian Tibatemwa Ekirikubinza says the university has been studying claims made by Mamdani in Scholars in the Market place- the Dilemmas of Neo-Liberal Reforms at Makerere University, that “quality of education at the once Africa’s best university had declinedâ€.
Ekirikubinza said: “We have scheduled the meeting for February after graduation ceremonies.â€
She said she had written to different heads of department, inviting them to a workshop on critical analysis of Mamdani’s book, which she says is “full of claims.â€
Mamdani, a professor of Anthropology and Political Science at Columbia University in the US and Director of Columbia’s Institute of African Studies, wrote a book in 2006, criticising the education system at Makerere. He suggested that there should be a review of the education system to save the 85-year-old institution.
Mamdani, also a former head of Political Science at Makerere, says the introduction of part-time lecturers is leading to the decline in the quality of education output because most lecturers preferred to be part timers and therefore miss classes on many occasions.
He says the growth in part-time staff was also directly related to the decline in the level of formal training of the teaching staff. He says the coordinators of Organisational Studies, Development Studies and Urban Planning had no core staff in 2003/04; the entire staff was part-time.
MAKERERE University is finally to discuss Prof. Mamdani’s critical book.
The book presents an assessment of Makerere University between 1989-2005 when it embraced a private students’ sponsorship scheme.
Deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academic affairs Dr. Lillian Tibatemwa Ekirikubinza says the university has been studying claims made by Mamdani in Scholars in the Market place- the Dilemmas of Neo-Liberal Reforms at Makerere University, that “quality of education at the once Africa’s best university had declinedâ€.
Ekirikubinza said: “We have scheduled the meeting for February after graduation ceremonies.â€
She said she had written to different heads of department, inviting them to a workshop on critical analysis of Mamdani’s book, which she says is “full of claims.â€
Mamdani, a professor of Anthropology and Political Science at Columbia University in the US and Director of Columbia’s Institute of African Studies, wrote a book in 2006, criticising the education system at Makerere. He suggested that there should be a review of the education system to save the 85-year-old institution.
Mamdani, also a former head of Political Science at Makerere, says the introduction of part-time lecturers is leading to the decline in the quality of education output because most lecturers preferred to be part timers and therefore miss classes on many occasions.
He says the growth in part-time staff was also directly related to the decline in the level of formal training of the teaching staff. He says the coordinators of Organisational Studies, Development Studies and Urban Planning had no core staff in 2003/04; the entire staff was part-time.