5,000 fail to register at Makerere
Oct 11, 2009
About 5,000 students, out of the 13,455 admitted to Makerere University on private sponsorship this academic year, have not turned up for registration.
By Francis Kagolo
About 5,000 students, out of the 13,455 admitted to Makerere University on private sponsorship this academic year, have not turned up for registration.
Another 323 government-sponsored students have also not registered after the deadline for the exercise passed on September 28.
According to a notice from the academic registrar’s department pinned at the Senate building, most of the government-sponsored students who have not turned up, were admitted for bachelor of veterinary medicine and bachelor of office and information management.
Other courses include bachelor of science in economics, international business, agricultural engineering, development economics, business administration, supply and chain management and bachelor of agricultural engineering.
“The university stopped registering first-year students on September 28, but a total of 4,609 private students did not turn up,†a university official, who preferred anonymity, told The New Vision on Wednesday.
Alfred Masikye-Namoah, the acting academic registrar, said: “Records indicate that a number of students have not yet paid fees and registered. All students were supposed to clear all outstanding financial obligations to register.â€
In a circular to faculty deans and directors, Masikye said students who failed to pay fees and register would be denied access to university facilities, tests and coursework.
“Deans and directors of schools/faculties/institutes have been instructed to monitor and ensure that non-registered students do not access university services and facilities,†the circular read.
Leaders of the Makerere University Concerned Students Association, a students’ rights advocacy group, attributed the low turn up to the tight deadline and strict registration policies.
For a private student to be eligible for registration, he has to pay all functional fees (about sh500,000) and full tuition, according to a recent policy passed by the university council.
Government-sponsored students pay sh141,500 in development fee, caution money, university rules booklet and the undergraduate gown.
Registration, the policy stipulates, is supposed to be done within the first three weeks of the semester. To cater for late students, it can be extended to six weeks, which elapsed last month.
“A privately-sponsored student who fails to pay the registration fee, examination fees, research fees, library fees and the tuition fees at the end of the sixth (6th) week from the beginning of an academic year shall forfeit his/her place in the university,†says the policy.
If any student fails to register within the specified period, the university cancels the admission. If it is a government-sponsored student, the place is given to someone else who scored closest to the cut-off points.
Makerere, like the other four public universities, increased the tuition fees by 40% this academic year to reduce deficits.
Anthony Wadimba, the students association’s secretary, said: “Many students have been barred from sitting for tests. Yet tests contribute 30 percent of the exam mark. It means students will fail the exams.â€
Meanwhile, the situation at the Makerere University Business School at Nakawa, where students rioted on Wednesday evening, has returned to normal.
The students were protesting the increase of retake fees from sh6,000 to 195,000 for any course unit and the university policy abolishing partial payment of tuition fees.
By yesterday afternoon, the students had resumed studies. Three Police vehicles with armed officers were patrolling the campus.
No student was arrested in the Wednesday scuffle, the Police said.
About 5,000 students, out of the 13,455 admitted to Makerere University on private sponsorship this academic year, have not turned up for registration.
Another 323 government-sponsored students have also not registered after the deadline for the exercise passed on September 28.
According to a notice from the academic registrar’s department pinned at the Senate building, most of the government-sponsored students who have not turned up, were admitted for bachelor of veterinary medicine and bachelor of office and information management.
Other courses include bachelor of science in economics, international business, agricultural engineering, development economics, business administration, supply and chain management and bachelor of agricultural engineering.
“The university stopped registering first-year students on September 28, but a total of 4,609 private students did not turn up,†a university official, who preferred anonymity, told The New Vision on Wednesday.
Alfred Masikye-Namoah, the acting academic registrar, said: “Records indicate that a number of students have not yet paid fees and registered. All students were supposed to clear all outstanding financial obligations to register.â€
In a circular to faculty deans and directors, Masikye said students who failed to pay fees and register would be denied access to university facilities, tests and coursework.
“Deans and directors of schools/faculties/institutes have been instructed to monitor and ensure that non-registered students do not access university services and facilities,†the circular read.
Leaders of the Makerere University Concerned Students Association, a students’ rights advocacy group, attributed the low turn up to the tight deadline and strict registration policies.
For a private student to be eligible for registration, he has to pay all functional fees (about sh500,000) and full tuition, according to a recent policy passed by the university council.
Government-sponsored students pay sh141,500 in development fee, caution money, university rules booklet and the undergraduate gown.
Registration, the policy stipulates, is supposed to be done within the first three weeks of the semester. To cater for late students, it can be extended to six weeks, which elapsed last month.
“A privately-sponsored student who fails to pay the registration fee, examination fees, research fees, library fees and the tuition fees at the end of the sixth (6th) week from the beginning of an academic year shall forfeit his/her place in the university,†says the policy.
If any student fails to register within the specified period, the university cancels the admission. If it is a government-sponsored student, the place is given to someone else who scored closest to the cut-off points.
Makerere, like the other four public universities, increased the tuition fees by 40% this academic year to reduce deficits.
Anthony Wadimba, the students association’s secretary, said: “Many students have been barred from sitting for tests. Yet tests contribute 30 percent of the exam mark. It means students will fail the exams.â€
Meanwhile, the situation at the Makerere University Business School at Nakawa, where students rioted on Wednesday evening, has returned to normal.
The students were protesting the increase of retake fees from sh6,000 to 195,000 for any course unit and the university policy abolishing partial payment of tuition fees.
By yesterday afternoon, the students had resumed studies. Three Police vehicles with armed officers were patrolling the campus.
No student was arrested in the Wednesday scuffle, the Police said.