Makerere, MUBS row needs careful handling

Apr 22, 2009

THE current squabble between Makerere University and its affiliated college, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), needs careful handling if the academic standards in Uganda’s oldest institution of learning are to be maintained.

THE current squabble between Makerere University and its affiliated college, Makerere University Business School (MUBS), needs careful handling if the academic standards in Uganda’s oldest institution of learning are to be maintained.

Makerere has rejected over 800 students admitted by MUBS, citing, among others, forgeries and lack of requisite qualifications for the programmes. The Nakawa-based business school now wants the education ministry to intervene and resolve the dispute.

However in resolving the issue, the ministry should avoid a pre-conceived position against any of the two institutions. It was therefore, wrong for Mwesigwa Rukutana, the state minister for higher education, to blame Makerere for the fracas.

The minister on Tuesday reportedly told the Parliamentary committee on social services that it was improper for Makerere to claim at this point that the students did not meet admissions requirements. The minister was apparently not briefed about the background to the whole saga.

First and foremost, the programmes in question were introduced at the time MUBS had declared itself autonomous of Makerere University. It set its own admission criteria and enrolled the students.

When the Government declared that MUBS was not independent of its parent university, Makerere had to bear the burden of ensuring that the new programmes were in conformity with its standards as well as the benchmarks set by the National Council for Higher Education.

Instead of forcing Makerere to absorb all the students in question, MUBS should immediately hand over those with forged certificates to the Police for criminal prosecution.

Those without the requisite qualifications should be advised to take on programmes they qualify for. Modalities of how to share the cost and time lost can be worked out. This would be a win-win situation.

At the time Makerere is struggling to improve its standards, it should not be forced to take on unqualified students simply to suit the interests of some powerful people.

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