Students too can own computers

Jan 10, 2008

OWNING a personal computer (PC) by a student at a higher institution of learning is not simple, considering the fact that many students do not have a steady source of income.

By Ronald Kabuusu

OWNING a personal computer (PC) by a student at a higher institution of learning is not simple, considering the fact that many students do not have a steady source of income.

Students today are required to type and print their coursework, reports and research before they hand them in as soft or hard copies or both to their lecturers for marking.

Peter Kakuru, an engineering student at Kyambogo University agrees that a personal computer can ease student’s academic lives since departmental computer laboratories have few computers yet the students are many.

There are several avenues students can use to own personal computers.
The first one is to find out from your institution’s purchasing officer whether the university has a valid purchasing agreement with any computer company or distributor before trying the many profit-making computer stores in Kampala.

If the agreement exists, this could result into discounts for students willing to acquire new computers since most of the computer companies would be interested in supporting educational programmes at institution level.

Better still, one could inquire from the finance department whether the university offers financing programmes for new computers to their students.
Even if the programs do not exist, go ahead and sell the idea to the relevant university authorities for consideration.

This would allow students to pay for their computers in installments during the course of their stay at the university.
For example, first year students who are interested in the scheme can pay a certain percentage of the total computer cost upfront and then pay the balance in equal installments together with the semesters’ tuition balance.

The students’ guild leadership can propose to the respective Government ministries (ICT and Education) to set up technology loan programmes to offer personal computers to students at low interest rates.

University authorities can also adopt mandatory purchase programmes for students to enable them acquire computers at the beginning of their courses.

The cost of the computers can be added to the students’ tuition fees and the computer becomes their property upon graduation.

Alternatively, a student can opt to buy an old computer and upgrade it from time to time instead of investing in an expensive new one.

The savings made on the purchase can be used to acquire an affordable printer to reduce the printing costs of academic materials.

A few students who currently own personal computers in hostels have gone a step ahead to subscribe to affordable internet connection using wireless CDMA fixed phones from the local internet providers.

The internet is a valuable source of information for students and makes a computer multi-purpose.
Internet connectivity enables a computer to be used as a television, FM or internet radio and music system.

By the time, a student graduates, he will have acquired not only an asset but also the vital experience of using a computer.

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