Uganda National Students Association (UNSA) met with government officials at State House and agreed to embrace dialogue to solve problems between students and administrators in academic institutions.
Often, students in different institutions, especially those of higher learning, have engaged in demonstrations that lead to loss of school property and at times, leave several of them with injuries.
According to UNSA president Yusuf Welunga, universities and schools often lose credibility especially among parents whenever students strike.
“When students demonstrate and turn violent, it forces security to use live ammunition which can result in loss of life,” he said.
Welunga made the remarks during a guild presidents meeting at Gulu University, on Saturday, April 30.
He said strikes also interfere with students’ study schedules, as institutions are often closed for a long time as administration and the line ministries find solutions to their issues.
Welunga noted that the parents are even affected more by strikes since much of the school fees they pay is wasted whenever their children are suspended or expelled from institutions for being violent.
Welunga said many school administrators and other authorities do not listen to students issues when raised, which sparks off demonstrations.
“Many people in authority only respond to students’ issues after a strike, making students believe that it is the only way to get what they want,” he said.
Welunga said one of the reasons students strike is the high cost of education, which forces many of them to either take dead years or drop out.
“The Government should dialogue with students, parents and institution owners to regulate fees,” he said.
The association also asked government to maintain Universal Primary and Secondary education, as many attributed their success to it. These also asked Parliament to debate and pass a resolution deterring security from using live ammunition during strikes
The association vice president Julia Mahumura, said female students cherish peace in institutions, which is evidenced by the few number of female participants in strikes.
Maj. Emumnanuel Kuteesa, senior youth mobiliser at State House expressed what peace means to them and the various ways they can keep it, especially through dialogue.
Kuteesa gave the students body sh5m, which was donated to them by Lt Gen Muhooni Kainerugaba, the commander of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, Land Forces, as contribution to their operations.
Representing the education ministry, George Mutekanga, the assistant commissioner in charge of private schools and institution of higher learning said countries in the great lakes region have launched a peace education handbook.
Mutekanga said the education ministry is ready to ensure that whatever is outlined in the handbook is installed in the curriculum, such as skills of conflict management and mediation, starting at the lowest level of education.
