Carnegie winds up Makerere bursary
Aug 06, 2009
I WOULD be married now, maybe with about eight children!†says a female student at Makerere University. “It is like a dream for me,†another chips in.These two young women are grateful. Having been born in poor families, it suddenly seems incredible
By Carol Natukunda
and Rebecca Harshbarger
I WOULD be married now, maybe with about eight children!†says a female student at Makerere University. “It is like a dream for me,†another chips in.These two young women are grateful. Having been born in poor families, it suddenly seems incredible that they made it to university.
Now, they can confidently talk and dress decently like their average counterparts at the university..
This would not have been possible had it not been for the Female Scholarship Initiative (FSI) at the gender mainstreaming division, Makerere University.
The initiative was launched in 2001, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to offer scholarships to bright female students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
However, the financial support from Carnegie ends in June 2010, implying that the university either takes up the project or solicits for funding from the government and other voluntary organisations.
“The financial support ends next year. Where do we want to go?†asked Prof. Lillian Ekirikubinza Tibatemwa, the acting vice-chancellor of Makerere University, while speaking to stakeholders at Sheraton Kampala Hotel recently.
Tibatemwa said the initiative had increased girls’ enrolment at Makerere from 40% in 2000, to 46% in 2008.
Over 691 girls have benefited from the scholarship.
Tibatemwa noted that the affirmative action policy, which was introduced in 1990, saw the number of female students increase from 12% in 1989 to 30% in 1991.
However, she added that studies revealed that under-representation was more apparent in the science disciplines where female students constituted only 27% of the total enrolment.
Another trend revealed gross regional imbalances with low representation of female students from the northern and eastern districts of Uganda.
“We cannot let FSI die,†said Christine Kiganda, the vice-chairperson of Makerere University Council who hopes Government takes over the initiative, albeit many think it would be run down in the hands of the Government.
Dora Byamukama, a lawyer and member of the East African Legislative Assembly had a query: “What would we lose if each of us contributed to the initiative?â€
Catherine Kanabahita, the head of the Gender Mainstreaming Division, said girl child education was crucial.
She noted that between 2001 and 2006, there were 9,719 applicants for the FSI scholarship at the university, but only 691 had benefited.
“This indicates that 92% of the girls from disadvantaged backgrounds missed the opportunity,†she said.
She added that they hope to set up a foundation to help girls make it to other public universities.
“We appeal to stakeholders and well-wishers to partner with us,†she said..
If you wish to contribute to the scheme, contact the Gender Mainstreaming Department at Makerere University on 0414-540184 or email at msgender@acadedreg.mak.ac.ug.
and Rebecca Harshbarger
I WOULD be married now, maybe with about eight children!†says a female student at Makerere University. “It is like a dream for me,†another chips in.These two young women are grateful. Having been born in poor families, it suddenly seems incredible that they made it to university.
Now, they can confidently talk and dress decently like their average counterparts at the university..
This would not have been possible had it not been for the Female Scholarship Initiative (FSI) at the gender mainstreaming division, Makerere University.
The initiative was launched in 2001, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York to offer scholarships to bright female students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
However, the financial support from Carnegie ends in June 2010, implying that the university either takes up the project or solicits for funding from the government and other voluntary organisations.
“The financial support ends next year. Where do we want to go?†asked Prof. Lillian Ekirikubinza Tibatemwa, the acting vice-chancellor of Makerere University, while speaking to stakeholders at Sheraton Kampala Hotel recently.
Tibatemwa said the initiative had increased girls’ enrolment at Makerere from 40% in 2000, to 46% in 2008.
Over 691 girls have benefited from the scholarship.
Tibatemwa noted that the affirmative action policy, which was introduced in 1990, saw the number of female students increase from 12% in 1989 to 30% in 1991.
However, she added that studies revealed that under-representation was more apparent in the science disciplines where female students constituted only 27% of the total enrolment.
Another trend revealed gross regional imbalances with low representation of female students from the northern and eastern districts of Uganda.
“We cannot let FSI die,†said Christine Kiganda, the vice-chairperson of Makerere University Council who hopes Government takes over the initiative, albeit many think it would be run down in the hands of the Government.
Dora Byamukama, a lawyer and member of the East African Legislative Assembly had a query: “What would we lose if each of us contributed to the initiative?â€
Catherine Kanabahita, the head of the Gender Mainstreaming Division, said girl child education was crucial.
She noted that between 2001 and 2006, there were 9,719 applicants for the FSI scholarship at the university, but only 691 had benefited.
“This indicates that 92% of the girls from disadvantaged backgrounds missed the opportunity,†she said.
She added that they hope to set up a foundation to help girls make it to other public universities.
“We appeal to stakeholders and well-wishers to partner with us,†she said..
If you wish to contribute to the scheme, contact the Gender Mainstreaming Department at Makerere University on 0414-540184 or email at msgender@acadedreg.mak.ac.ug.