With the rise of feminism, women empowerment groups and Non-governmental organisations that advocate for the rights of the female gender, there has been a slight increase in the number of women graduates that Makerere University, produces every year.
According to the report presented by Ms. Anna Reismann, the Country Representative Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, at least 52 percent females graduate from Makerere University annually. This means they beat their counterparts, the male, with two percent difference making 48 percent male graduates.
“Knowing that 52 percent of the graduates of Makerere University are women. It is a big achievement and that speaks exactly what we call educational attainment Index where Uganda has the percentage of 92.4 percent meaning that there is a gap of 7.6 percent to achieve parity between women and men in terms of access to education,” She reported.
Ms Reismann made these remarks last week, during the inaugural lecture in the memorial of Mrs Sarah Nyendwoha Ntiro held on Thursday, Dec 01, 2022 in the Auditorium of the Yusuf Lule Central Teaching Facility.
On the global gender gap, she said they still need 132 years to go before they can bridge up the gender parity gap saying, “This statistic has since been worsened from 100 years because of COVID-19, the civil wars and refugee crises”
The Sarah Ntiro memorial lecture was to learn more about her legacy and to point out the still existing gender gaps needed to be closed.
The late was a human rights activist particularly for those of the girl child.
Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the Makerere University Vice Chancellor, was over the moon for taking part in this memorial event, “It gives me pleasure to welcome you to today’s public lecture, the celebration of a gallant alumnus and selfless advocate for human rights”
Ms Twasiima Bigirwa eulogized Mrs Sarah Ntiro for her remarkable legacy during her lifetime service, “When I think about Sarah Ntiro, I see determination, I see a woman who wasn’t afraid to be the first in her time among African women. This is the legacy we must continue to contend with” she advised
“As Makerere looks to the next 100 years, I wonder will we rise to the challenge of shaping up a decolonized education system that doesn’t only teach but also pushes forward disruptive ideas,” Ms Bigirwa added
In one way of bridging the gender gap to ensure equality in access to education, the government of Uganda introduced the 1.5 scheme for girls on each and every female student joining higher institutions of learning that have seen many girls admitted on government scholarships in public universities across the country.
While appreciating the initiative, Dr Euzobia M. Mugisha Baine, the Director Gender Mainstreaming Directorate said it has elevated lives of many girls,”I was a fresher in 1990, when the 1.5 schemes for girls was introduced. I probably wouldn’t have made it here. But I remember being so glad being admitted to Makerere”
One of the non-governmental organisations pushing for gender equality is the Forum for African Women Educationalists Uganda (FAWE Uganda) has found challenges of the pandemic in their operation,
“We have struggled with inherent gender inequality, gender based violence among others. In a COVID-19 lockdown, we found out that there was 36.6 percent increase in teenage pregnancies in the first months of the pandemic,” Ms Susan Opok argued.
She stretched that unfortunately, this has continued to prevail, “Today, we see many child mothers coming out of the pandemic which affects access to education by girl child. This presents us with quite a big challenge going forward”
Prof Sarah N. Ssali, the Associate Professor of Gender Studies said the Late Sarah Ntiro is the one behind the existence of the School of Gender, “The Makerere School of Women and Gender Studies exists today because of Sarah Ntiro who stood with other women to push the bold idea of higher education for the girl child”
The Sarah Ntiro memorial lecture was part of the Mak at 100 lecture series celebrating the legacy of a great African first female to graduate from Makerere College. She left a positive mark on female rights.
About Sarah Ntiro:
She was the first female University graduate in East and Central Africa, an educator and an activist. Was born on March 21 March, 1926 and died on October 22, 2018.
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