Makerere suspends PhD in education
Sep 16, 2010
MAKERERE University has suspended its doctor of philosophy degree (PhD) programme in education management and administration over inadequate teaching staff.
By Francis Kagolo
MAKERERE University has suspended its doctor of philosophy degree (PhD) programme in education management and administration over inadequate teaching staff.
The programme was suspended last month, sending the 20 students who had applied for it this year into panic.
A source said the School of Education has only two professors, who have been overwhelmed by the increasing number of PhD students.
“About 20 students have been applying for a PhD in education annually. Two professors could not supervise and mark all their dissertations in time. Many students have not graduated after over six years,†said the source.
Prof. Eli Katunguka-Rwakishya, the director of the school of graduate studies, yesterday said: “Senate took the decision because of lack of capacity. There were few lecturers and supervisors.â€
Dr. Masagazi Musazi, the dean,
explained that they had six
professors, but the number dropped in 2009 when four foreign professors, who were being paid for by UNESCO, return home.
“It is not the PhD programme alone. We are making a review of all our postgraduate programmes, including masters,†he clarified.
Masazi added that the 20 students who had applied this year, will have to re-register after the course has been reinstated.
The university has offered the PhD in education for a decade. It has been among the few coursework-oriented PhD programmes.Â
About 100 people have graduated in this programme, including education consultant and head teacher of Uganda Martyrs SS Namugongo, Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo.
Katunguka, however, was optimistic that the suspension will give available lecturers ample time to supervise the ongoing PhD student researchers and graduate all pending students.
This becomes the twenty-first course to be suspended at Makerere this year. Other undergraduate courses were scrapped by the Senate in May on recommendation of a committee set up by the vice-chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba.
The courses were phased out due
to inadequate teaching staff, insufficient curriculum and failure to attract adequate students.
MAKERERE University has suspended its doctor of philosophy degree (PhD) programme in education management and administration over inadequate teaching staff.
The programme was suspended last month, sending the 20 students who had applied for it this year into panic.
A source said the School of Education has only two professors, who have been overwhelmed by the increasing number of PhD students.
“About 20 students have been applying for a PhD in education annually. Two professors could not supervise and mark all their dissertations in time. Many students have not graduated after over six years,†said the source.
Prof. Eli Katunguka-Rwakishya, the director of the school of graduate studies, yesterday said: “Senate took the decision because of lack of capacity. There were few lecturers and supervisors.â€
Dr. Masagazi Musazi, the dean,
explained that they had six
professors, but the number dropped in 2009 when four foreign professors, who were being paid for by UNESCO, return home.
“It is not the PhD programme alone. We are making a review of all our postgraduate programmes, including masters,†he clarified.
Masazi added that the 20 students who had applied this year, will have to re-register after the course has been reinstated.
The university has offered the PhD in education for a decade. It has been among the few coursework-oriented PhD programmes.Â
About 100 people have graduated in this programme, including education consultant and head teacher of Uganda Martyrs SS Namugongo, Dr. John Chrysostom Muyingo.
Katunguka, however, was optimistic that the suspension will give available lecturers ample time to supervise the ongoing PhD student researchers and graduate all pending students.
This becomes the twenty-first course to be suspended at Makerere this year. Other undergraduate courses were scrapped by the Senate in May on recommendation of a committee set up by the vice-chancellor, Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba.
The courses were phased out due
to inadequate teaching staff, insufficient curriculum and failure to attract adequate students.