Ronald Dhikusooka & Fazir Byekwaso
Jinja-Mass communication department at Kampala University seem to be facing a tougher moment that they have tolerated for a very long period not until they raise their voices, blaming the institution for negligence of the Course.
The students accuse the institution for failing to provide the requirements for the course such as computers, recorders, still and video cameras on which the trainee journalists carry their practice.
On a telephone interview with Campus Bee ,Mr Ayomi Bendicto mass communication president Jinja Kampala University campus blame the University for not being supportive and responsible enough to provide and elevate the journalist course to the adorable state. “Its like father leaving his own kids to suffer with out providing basic needs, we lack a studio where to practice our presentation skills in broadcast media, we lack notice board on which to write on going campus stories as only present notice boards qualify for public usage.
The campus lack even the University magazine and is not bothered to facilitate the Mass communication students to work upon initiation of this project after countless times of discussion about this ” he said He adds that the course is 90%practical but to his dismay, about 80% of students end up leaving the campus half-baked unable to meet and fit the requirements of the job market.
“A case in point is recently concluded internship, our fellow students at the internship places faced hardship to use gadgets such as computer and some software, recorders and cameras as everything seemed strange at their sight” he reveals.
Mr. Ayomi also accuse the institution for suffocating the Mass communication clubs by not lobbying for the course and not collaborating enough with students to promote the august club, “Media is a powerful tool in the society that we have to harness to educate, entertain and inform the public with only support from administrators but is not the case!, as we have tried our best to raise voices to our bosses to get us attachments to community radio stations, television and Newspapers to give us space to gain confidence in our work but all in vain.” he laments
He also appeals to his fellow students to practice a lot of presentations, writing well researched articles and in broadcast and print media for accreditation of the institution and their personality. “We are the window of the world, therefore we have to engage ourselves in editorial work, production of quality and verified information.” he says On other related issues, Mr. Bendicto revealed that Mass communication club shall have its incoming election in early march.
