Education in 2020

EDUCATION | THE YEAR THAT WAS

January 17, 2020: Govt increases UPE, USE grants. As part of measures to improve the quality of education, the Government increased capitation grants for both Universal Primary Education (UPE) and Universal Secondary Education (USE) students. NV170120pg01&03

January 17, 2020: 1,500 teachers transferred. The Ministry of Education and Sports transferred 1,500 secondary school teachers from various parts of the country. NV170120pg01&03

March 02, 2020: MAK acquires machine to test semen quality. Makerere University acquired a new machine, The Sperm Vision Machine, worth $40,000 (sh146m) that would help in analysing the quality and quantity of semen in men and animals. NV020320pg01&06

March 02, 2020: Muyingo urges students to embrace vocational education. State minister for higher education John Chrysostom Muyingo asked students to embrace vocational education if the country was to overcome unemployment. NV020320pg0

March 03, 2020: Project to promote education in Karamoja, Acholi extended. Save the Children Uganda entered a partnership with Vision Group to supply newspapers to 110 primary schools under the Newspapers in Education (NiE) programme. Save the Children contributed sh220m towards the project. NV030320pg08

March 05, 2020: Education commits sh22b to agriculture colleges. The education ministry yesterday signed contracts worth about sh22b with four companies to construct four agriculture technical colleges. NV060320pg04

March 09, 2020: First Lady appreciates Belgium for support in teacher education. The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni, thanked the Kingdom of Belgium for their support towards teacher and tutor education in Uganda. NV090320pg05

March 10, 2020: Best teachers contest 2020 edition launched. The search for the next top teachers in Uganda was launched of the fourth edition of the Teachers Making a Difference competition. NV110320pg01&04

March 12, 2020: Coronavirus: School visitations okayed. School visitation days can go on as planned, the health ministry advised as the country continued to step up vigilance against the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. NV130320pg04

March 18, 2020: Coronavirus: Schools increase vigilance, set up washing points. As the world grappled with coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, school administrators in Uganda came up with preventive measures to protect students. NV180320pg01&07

March 18, 2020: 32-day closure for schools, churches and mosques. The President announced that all educational institutions — primary, secondary and higher institutions of learning — would be closed for a month as one of the measures that the Government took in the fight against COVID-19. NV190320pg01&03

March 20, 2020: Kaziimba becomes 4th Chancellor of UCU. The new Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, was installed as the fourth chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU). SV220320pg01&07

March 22, 2020: Ugandan teacher shortlisted for Global Teacher Prize. A Ugandan teacher Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe of St. Monica Girls Training Centre, Gulu, district, was among the top 50 shortlisted for $1m (about sh3.7b) Global Teacher Prize 2020. SV220320pg06

November 10, 2020: Buganda kingdom raises concern on new curriculum. Buganda kingdom praised the Government's move to revise the lower secondary curriculum. It also raised concerns over some of the subjects which they thought should have been made compulsory. NV100320pg05

June 02, 2020: Student leaders agree to mandatory COVID-19 tests to re-open institutions. A section of student leaders and finalists backed the extension to re-open schools, saying it would keep them safe. NV020620pg04

June 09, 2020: Makerere University ranked 8th best in Africa. Makerere University was ranked the eight best University in Africa. It was also among the top 2000 universities worldwide, according to the Center for World University Rankings' (CWUR) list for 20-21. NV090620pg05

June 15, 2020: Reopening: Education Ministry proposes mandatory test for teachers, students. As part of the protective measures against COVID-19, lecturers, teachers and students would be required to undergo mandatory test s for the coronavirus before reopening. NV150620pg04

June 15, 2020: Applications for students' loan scheme kick off. Applications for the students' loan scheme for the 2020/2021 academic year were opened, the Higher Education Students Financing Board (HESFB) revealed. NV150620pg05

June 16, 2020: Government dispatches more home-schooling material to districts. As uncertainty loomed on the re-opening of schools, the education ministry dispatched another batch of reading material for learners. NV160620pg01&05

June 18, 2020: Govt registers teachers for home-schooling programme. The government started registering primary and secondary school teachers who would support the new initiative of teaching learners from home while the education ministry prepared content for the year. NV180620pg01&06

June 19, 2020: 1,400 get govt sponsorship at Makerere as medicine, education take lion's share. A total of 1,471 students were admitted on government scholarship at Makerere University for the academic year 2020/2021. The numbers included undergraduate admissions at both MUK and MUBS. NV190620pg01,04,12,23-26

June 22, 2020: Govt stops LDC online lectures. The education ministry stopped the Law Development Centre (LDC) from conducting online lectures. This followed complaints from MPs who urged that some students were disadvantaged. NV220620pg09

June 23, 2020: Education ministers assess projects at Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba. The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni, together with her colleagues, the three ministers of state and senior technical officers from the ministry made a fact-finding tour of the Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba (UPIK) to assess the progress of the Albertine Region Sustainable Development Project (ARSD). NV230620pg05

June 23, 2020: Experts want public varsities to cut intake at entry level. Experts called for a gradual reduction in admission of Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education finalists to public universities to create more room for research and innovation at graduate level. NV230620pg01&11

August 01, 2020: Makerere scraps 20 courses. Makerere University Council has approved the restructuring of 20 undergraduate programmes, a move that would see 82 courses reduced to 62. The new curriculum will take effect in the next academic year, which starts in August 2021. NV010820pg01&03

August 05, 2020: Sh20 billion released for private school teachers. The finance ministry released sh20b as a special package for private school teachers countrywide. NV050820pg01&06

August 10, 2020: Varsities allowed to teach, examine students online. The National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) allowed Universities and other tertiary institutions to apply and teach or examine students online. NV100820pg01&06

August 29, 2020: Education ministry given fake titles for Namboole stadium land.  As the education ministry was still celebrating the acquisition of land titles for the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole it dawned on them that they had been duped and given fake ones. NV290820pg01&03

August 30, 2020: New UCU Chancellor prioritizes e-learning. The third vice-chancellor of Uganda Christian University (UCU), Associate Professor Aaron Mushengyezi, was installed in a scientific church service at Nkoyoyo Hall at the main campus. NV310820pg09

August 31, 2020: WHY KARAMOJA TOPPED TEACHERS' EXAMINATIONS. In the 2019 Grade III teachers' certificate in Primary Teachers' education examinations, Karamoja sub-region emerged the best. The best performing institution was Kotido Primary Teachers' College (PTC) in Kotido district, whereas Moroto Core PTC was 36^th countrywide. NV310820pg08

October 05, 2020: COVID-19 score: Only schools with over 60% to open. The education ministry released the scorecard strategy that would be used to determine whether an academic institution is allowed to reopen or not. NV051020pg01&04

October 06, 2020: World Teachers Day: Mixed reactions over school re-opening, first term fees arrears. Teachers were still divided over the slated reopening of schools, which was just nine days away. On September 21, President Yoweri Museveni said schools, colleges and universities would re-open for the 1.2 million students in candidate classes and finalists in tertiary institutions and universities on October 15. NV061020pg10 &11

October 07, 2020: Teachers should encamp at schools, orders President Museveni. Ahead of the re-opening of education institutions for candidates and finalists, President Yoweri Museveni has ordered that teachers should encamp near schools, describing the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as "war" and not a luxury. NV071020pg01,04&05

October 12, 2020: Govt releases Sh72b for schools' reopening. The Government released sh52b for the planned reopening of schools. NV121020pg01&03

October 13, 2020: Most schools not inspected ahead of reopening. With only two days left to the reopening of schools, few schools across the country had received certificates of compliance. NV131020pg04

October 14, 2020: Govt urges parents to verify school's status before paying fees. As schools reopen for finalists and candidate classes, the education ministry asked parents to pay fees at only those schools that had been granted certificates of compliance. NV141020pg04

October 14, 2020: Don't abdicate your responsibility, Mrs Museveni urges parents. The First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, urged parents to do more in addressing the challenges faced by the girl child as a parenting obligation. NV141020pg06

October 15, 2020: Many schools fail to open as ministry finalises inspection. Many schools in the country did not reopen because the education ministry had not issued them with certificates of compliance. NV151020pg01&04

October 15, 2020: Schools prepare to re-open under tight conditions. Schools across the country re-opened with candidate classes (in secondary/primary) and final-year students (tertiary institutions) reporting first. The schools were closed on March 18 following the outbreak of COVID-19. NV151020pg16&17

November 03, 2020: FIRST LADY APPEALS FOR SUPPORT OVER PROCUREMENT OF RADIOS. First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Mrs Janet Museveni appealed to Parliament on the education and sports committee to support the request for a supplementary budget to procure nine million radios to ensure that all stay-home children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown receive education programmes. NV041120pg11

November 09, 2020: ALLOW SEMI-CANDIDATE LEARNERS TO RESUME, SCHOOLS URGE GOVT. Owners of private academic institutions asked government to allow students in semi-candidate classes to return to school. The semi-candidate classes include Primary Six, Senior Three and Senior Five. NV101120pg06

November 10, 2020: GOVT RELEASES LIST OF 7,000 SCHOLARSHIPS. The Government released a list of 7,000 students admitted on various programmes in technical and vocational institutions in the country. NV111120pg01&03

November 10, 2020: Makerere fire report: Reconstruct Ivory Tower. An assessment by a technical team from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) recommended that the Makerere University Main Administration Building (MAB) was severely damaged in the fire and that it may have to be reconstructed entirely. NV111120pg01&03

November 11, 2020: UNEB EXTENDS REGISTRATION DEADLINE FOR CANDIDATES. The Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) extended the registration deadline from November 20 to November 30, according to a statement issued by UNEB's executive secretary Dan Odongo. NV121120pg04

November 12, 2020: Muyingo shocked by LDC over online lectures. The education state minister for higher education has expressed surprise at the move taken by the Law Development Centre to bar students from sitting final exams on grounds that they missed the online lectures during the COVID-19 era. NV131120pg04

November 14, 2020: Govt set to regulate fees in private schools. No private school will increase school fees or any other charges without permission from the education ministry. Going forward, all entities intending to increase tuition or fees will have to obtain express permission from the ministry. NV141120pg01&03

November 16, 2020: Schools decry high cost of operating with only candidates. Administrators and heads of schools decried the high cost of running schools with only candidate classes. NV161120pg03

November 16, 2020: Government to issue new rules on setting up schools. The education ministry is set to introduce strict regulations for investors planning to establish new private schools in order to prevent concentration of schools in certain areas, leaving others underserved. NV171120pg01&04

November 24, 2020: STUDENTS LOAN SCHEME TO COVER ACCOMMODATION. A plan was being mooted by the Higher Education Students Financing Board, commonly known as the Loan Scheme, to begin paying accommodation and meals for all beneficiaries of the programme. NV241120pg01&03

November 24, 2020: School owners contest proposal to regulate fees, salaries. A section of private school owners and school heads, are against government's proposal to regulate both school fees and teachers' salaries. NV241120pg03

November 25, 2020: Govt approves sh1 trillion funding for schools. Cabinet approved $390m (about sh1.4 trillion) for both UgIFT 2 and the Uganda Secondary School Education Expansion Project (USEEP). NV251120pg01,06&07

November 28, 2020: Government sets conditions for takeover of schools. The education ministry set criteria through which both private and community schools that failed to reopen, could be taken over. NV281120pg03

November 30, 2020: GOVERNMENT TO ALLOW MOBILE PHONES, TABLETS IN SCHOOLS. Students in lower institutions of learning may soon be allowed to have mobile phones and tablets in schools, according to the digital agenda plan being developed by the education ministry. NV301120pg03

November 27, 2020: National Teachers' Colleges revamped. First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Janet Museveni, commissioned the newly constructed and rehabilitated facilities in the five National Teachers' Colleges in Kabale. NV301120pg14

December 10, 2020: GOVT RE-INSPECTS SCHOOLS AHEAD OF LOWER CLASSES RECALL. The Government is set to carry out a second assessment of schools to decide whether students in lower classes can be allowed to resume studies. NV101220pg10

 

 

 

BIG STORIES IN 2020

October 08, 2020: The rise and fall of ISO's Kaka Bagyenda. President Yoweri Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, through a radio call message to the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) units, dropped Kaka and appointed seasoned operative Lt Colonel Charles Oluka. NV111020pg01&03

October 07, 2020: Hackers steal sh1b from telecoms, banks. The Police warned against hackers that were all out to mastermind electronic fraud targeting telecoms, banks and other financial institutions. This followed the cyber-attack on telecoms (MTN and Airtel) and Stanbic Bank Uganda. NV071020pg01&03

 

 

 

 

 

SPORTS IN 2020

October 15, 2020: ‘Cranes spent sh1.2b on six-day trip'. Different federations came out to criticize the manner in which FUFA allegedly spent sh1.9b in just six days during their concluded training camp in Dubai in preparation for the resumption of Africa Nations Cup qualifiers. NV151020pg47

October 13, 2020: KCCA plan to name a street after Joshua. Joshua Cheptegei continued to reap from his heroics that saw him break a fifth World Record at the NN Valencia run in Spain. The 24 year old's impressive records on the track forced Kampala City Council Authority (KCCA) to consider renaming one of the major streets of Kampala in his honour. NV131020pg40

October 12, 2020: Heathens make it 15. In a bold boardroom decision, Uganda Rugby Union (URU) declared Hima Cement Heathens as the 2019/2020 Nile Stout Premier Rugby League champions. NV121020pg74

October 10, 2020: Cheptegei should get a house-Mubajje. The Mufti Sheikh Ramadan Mubajje joined other Ugandans and sports lovers to congratulate Joshua Cheptegei for breaking two world records in a short time, becoming one of Uganda's greatest athletes since Independence. NV101020pg44

October 09, 2020: Joshua Cheptegei: 10,000M World King. Joshua Cheptegei smashed the 10,000m track world record and Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey set a new mark for the women's 5,000m on a heady night of athletics in Valencia. NV091020pg123