Following resolutions of the Makerere Visitation Committee, the research and development committee of National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) has proposed amendments in response to the report. The amendments are stringent and too much of qualifications, including 10 years of academic and management experience in public/private university and high standing public figure with at least a minimum of PhD, for Chairperson of NCHE. In addition, he/she should be appointed separately by the President of Uganda on the advice of Minister of Education.
These amendments have also questioned the effectiveness of students at the NCHE, as they propose to scrap off the two positions which were held by the students’ representatives. According to the current composition of NCHE, two positions are given to students.
“If resolved in the next council meeting, on 27th August 2018, students’ representation shall cease”, reads a section of notice by Mr.Bikala Simon, the university students’ representative to NCHE. He continues to emphasize that the students’ representatives on other councils, like guild presidents on University councils, may also be scraped off after NCHE amendments. He continues to say that this may not stop until they remove students from the top policy organs on various councils.
Other amendments include; having only 12members and chairperson on the council which previously had 20 members. With this amendment, members on the council shall be appointed by the Minister for Higher Education, not the constituencies and serving staff.
