Kyambogo University Guild President Mbazzira John has today morning held a presser to demand for reforms in the Education system that has been greatly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The presser was also a sign of solidarity to Makerere University counterpart Ssempijja Ivan, who was arrested yesterday with his colleagues while en route to Education Ministry for a petition.
Among other many issues, the Kyambogo leadership questioned the government’s handling of the Covid-19 crisis that has left the learners lagging behind.
“There is no evidence that the government is doing enough to support the health care services so as others systems like education system can be reopened despite the loans and donation from locals and International bodies requested to support the cause. In trying to cover up different messes at play, the government of Uganda through OPM and Ministry of gender recently came up with a Covid-19 relief fund in the guise of supporting the most vulnerable during this lockdown which hasn’t been sustainable,” the Guild stated
“Therefore, in light of the above, we shall roll nationwide campaigns/ actions demanding for immediate suspension of the Covid-19 relief project and demanding the government to consider prioritizing fixing messes in the education system through;
1. Mass vaccination of students and teachers.
2. Increasing the funding of public institutions to enable them establish and expand infrastructure like covid-19 isolation facilities, procuring equipment and P.E. Ps
3. Funding for strengthening the e-learning management systems through; -zero rating the e-learning platforms, procuring 1.C.T gadgets for students at a subsidized cost and Re-tooling their staff
4. Government through its ministry of information and technology implements a strategy in extending strong internet to the other parts of the country.
5. Government revokes its un-reasonable 12% internet tax. We shall stage different actions at different administrative units demanding to improve the status of the health and education systems across the country, ” the students demanded.
With the above suggestions, the Guild leadership vowed not to relent until action is taken.
“Failure to respond to this outcry, we intend to continue engaging other students to mobilize their fellow students to report back to schools after a period we shall be communicating,” the President stated.
Full details are attached bneath:
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