Uganda government should support vocational training and fight corruption

Over 100 community activists, students, teachers, journalists and local politicians appealed to the government of Uganda to increase support to vocational training in the country by setting up more vocational schools in Kasese district to train students in employable skills like electricity technicians, plumbing, wood work, agriculture, nursing, motor vehicle mechanics, nursery teaching among others to assist reduce the problem of unemployment in the country.

Participants at the one day dialogue in Kasese

Participants who were debating in a public dialogue also appealed to the government to fight corruption especially in government schools and the ministry of education so that students can get more quality education through the setting up of appropriate training facilities like laboratories, classrooms and reducing on teacher’s absenteeism. In addition, the fight against corruption will assist graduates to get jobs in the public sector since corruption makes it hard for poor graduates to get public jobs since they need to first pay bribes to get jobs.

In addition, during the one day public dialogue held on Wednesday, June 7^th 2017 at Springs International Hotel – Kasese, Uganda, the participants also advocated for the complete overhaul of the whole education curriculum to enable it focus more entrepreneurship, practicals and vocational education. Participants especially students also appealed to government to get for them jobs especially in the public sector and attracting more investors after the completion of their education.

A view of Kasese Town from Springs International Hotel - Kasese

This idea of transforming Uganda’s education sector was 1^st conceptualized when one of IRD – U staff (Solomon Akugizibwe) participated in a training supported by Master Making Tomorrow (MM2M) – Netherlands aimed sat transforming Uganda’s education sector. The training was held in Mutolere, Kisoro District – South Western Uganda in early this year and attracted over six schools.

The one day public dialogue was organized by Initiative for Rural Development – Uganda (IRD – U) in partnership with Association of Human Rights Organizations (AHURIO) and with support from Fredrick Ebert Stiftung.

There is need for increased funding and overhaul to transform Uganda’s educator

Over 100 community activists, students, teachers, journalists and local politicians appealed to the government of Uganda to increase financial support to the education sector to enable it provide quality graduates who can be self employed so as to reduce the problem of unemployment in the country.

Participants at the public dialogue in Fort Portal

According to the participants of the public dialogue, the financing should focus on enhanced teacher’s remuneration, education sector monitoring and supervision, construction of better classrooms, recruitment of more well qualified teachers, setting up of more well equipped science laboratories and strengthening collaboration between the private sector and the training institutions to enable students do fruitful internship to gain the much needed employable skills.

In addition, during the one day public dialogue held on Tuesday, June 6^th 2017 at Conerstone Hotel – Fort Portal, Uganda, the participants also advocated for the complete overhaul of the whole education curriculum to enable it focus more on creativity, critical thinking, sustaining and building networks, communication skills and skills and knowledge to use the 21^st century technology like internet and computers.

One of the students at the dialogue actively participating in the debate

This idea of transforming Uganda’s education sector was 1^st conceptualized when one of IRD – U staff (Solomon Akugizibwe) participated in a training supported by Master Making Tomorrow (MM2M) – Netherlands aimed sat transforming Uganda’s education sector. The training was held in Mutolere, Kisoro District – South Western Uganda in early this year and attracted over six schools.

IRD - U staff [Solomon Akugizibwe following the debate]

The one day public dialogue was organized by Initiative for Rural Development – Uganda (IRD – U) in partnership with Association of Human Rights Organizations (AHURIO) and with support from Fredrick Ebert Stiftung.

IRD – U partners with MM2M to hold an event dubbed “Mutolere Event of Educational Transformation (MEET)” in Kisoro District, South Western - Uganda

This event was facilitated by Maritje Bootje, Kamanzi Hedwig Sem,  Neeltje Hesen,  Solomon Akugizibwe,  Astrid Van Tilborgh, Ndagijimana Jackson and Mbarushimana Herbert and ran from april 24 – april 28 in Mutolere, Kisoro District – Western Uganda and it was aimed at transforming Uganda’s education sector.

A dutch facilitator during one of the sessions

This new initiative attracted 5 schools in Mutolere to work and learn together in order to improve the education system in Uganda and  stimulate and motivate students to become valuable members of our community and carry ownership and entrepreneurship for the future of the community and their own wellbeing.

The main topics focus focussed on were Talent development by students, communication between teachers and students to gain more involvement, participation and ownership of the own learning process of students, creative thinking (focussing on problem solving and gaining new ideas), Active learning, Reflection, implementation of educational reforming plans, multiple intelligence, differentiation in the classroom, cooperative learning and Shooting a documentary of this whole process of learning during M.E.E.T.

The opening ceremony was at St. Pauls SS from 2 pm –3 pm. After the opening ceremony the facilitators introduced the program to the participants.

It was an ambitious programme: with 5 schools in the district of different denominations and a mix of students and teachers work together on their own by a group.

After the training, private project group will now continue with the schools which benefited  in which each school will initiate its own club where they can apply for projects with a little money to sustainably keep them going as per the objectives of this project.

This exercise was very unique, well received and participants were very engaged.

Singer Jamal performs at Gardens Restaurant, Fort Portal on 31st December, 2016

Uganda popular Musician, Jamal Waswa who is known for many of his popular hits like abakyala balabye an Inshwi among others will performed at the end of year (2016) with a performance at Gardens Restaurant on Saturday, 31^st December, 2016 starting at 3:00pm. The performance dubbed “Abakyara Bazira”

Singer Jamal

Singer Jamal who didn’t perform in other towns of Uganda on that same day to enable him give the people of Fort Portal a unique experience coupled with the 21^st century music performance which appealed to people advocating for gender equality. This event will also attract Kampala’s top DeeJays [DJ Hearts].

 “My passion is about advocating for gender equality. I am inspired by the day to day life and the environment I live in. I do reality music. I use my music to fight abuse against women and my joy is to see a society that embraces gender equality.” Jamal

Other local musicians who performed at the show are Araali Kigambo.

After the performance at Gardens Restaurant, the revelers experienced fireworks and key note speeches on gender equality at Gardens Restaurant – Fort Portal.

This event was supported by Africell Uganda, CocaCola, Mountains of the Moon Hotel, KRC FM, Voice of Tooro (VOT), 106 Unlock and Initiative for Rural Development – Uganda (IRD - U).