The Ministry of Education and Sports and the management of Business, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (BTVET) Institutions and Colleges are mooting a policy that will see over 180 courses at Kyambogo University scrapped in order to transform the Banda based institution into a Technical or Vocational University.
The proposal to transform Kyambogo University into a purely vocational University was mooted during a consultative meeting on the oil and gas skills curriculum which was held at Victoria University in Kampala. It was attended by experts in oil and gas and education ministry officials.
The proposal is currently under discussion by the Education Ministry’s technical team which if approved will result into the eventual stoppage of the offering of all humanities and non vocational courses at the University and the prioritization of Vocational and practical courses at the Diploma, Bachelors and Postgraduate level.
A source from the Ministry of Education has also emphasized that in case the policy is implemented by the Ministry of Education, Kyambogo University will be expected to admit only students from the Business, Technical, Vocational Education and Training colleges and not those from Secondary schools so as to enable learners in the BTVET section to upgrade their skills.
The sweeping changes may also affect over 25000 students that are admitted to the over 180 humanities and non vocational courses.
Safina Musene, the Commissioner BTVET confirmed that Kyambogo was chosen because it is the most prominent University in the Technical and Vocational aspects of education.
“There is need to give chance to students who excel at community polytechnics, vocational schools and training centres to proceed to the next level of learning. Kyambogo University has enabled teachers, engineers and people pursuing other vocational skills to upgrade and receive higher awards. It is therefore our target University,” Said Safina.
Alex Kakooza, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education also supported the move and confirmed that it is currently under discussion.
“This move is being taken to enable Ugandans embrace vocational education. Rwanda recently launched Rwanda Polytechnic University that specializes in vocational education. Therefore, as part of reforms in the vocational education, we need people with skills such as welding and carpentry among other areas of study to upgrade their skills to University level,” said Kakooza.
Kakooza also mentioned that Ministry of Education has drafted a cabinet policy paper and the technical University’s idea is top on agenda.
“Before the end of this year, we shall have made a decision on the matter and the fate of Kyambogo University will have been decided,” Kakooza added.
The State Minister in charge of higher education John Chrysestom Muyingo explained the matter once approved by the top management of the Ministry of Education will be discussed at Cabinet level. However, he emphasized that the Ministry has not yet fully decided on the matter.
“Some people want the University to be a Teacher Institute for specialized Teacher Education whereas others want a Technical University to be created,” Dr. Muyingo informed.
When contacted, the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University, Prof. Eli Katunguka said that he was not aware of the development,
If it so happens to be an official matter, we shall be briefed on it and will give our opinions,” said Prof. Katunguka.
Below is a list of likely courses to be scrapped to pave way for technical education at Kyambogo University;
