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.