KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY HOLDS GRADUATION

A total of 3,483 students were passed out at Kyambogo University’s 7th graduation on day one yesterday while an extra 2,699 are set to graduate today.
While the graduates face the uncertain terrain of job hunting, the institution itself announced it faces an uncertain year without adequate funds to even pay staff.
Staff cry
Vice Chancellor Isaiah Omollo Ndiege said the institution was bleeding staff even at a time when it is operating with nearly 70 per cent deficit of required staffing levels. The university urgently needs Shs6.5 billion lifeline to plug its financial loopholes.
“We hope the government will allocate funds for staff recruitment to bridge this gap. To this end, we have asked for Sh6.5b in 2010/2011 financial year,” said Prof. Omollo.
Education and Social Sciences faculties produced the bulk of graduands yesterday with 693 graduating with Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Arts with Education. Like their counterparts from Makerere and other tertiary institutions producing qualified people, they face a common challenge of finding a place to practice what they have learnt and earn a salary.
The fate of teacher and students presented a major irony as the institution cried of shortage of staff while graduands have to worry about where next to find a job.
Prof. Ndiege said the university is losing a lot of money recruiting and training staff only to lose them after a short time.
He said in the last four months, 10 non-teaching and six teaching staff have left Kyambogo University.
Earlier this month, Gulu University failed to start lectures on time because of insufficient funds, which prompted some students to besiege the Vice Chancellor, Prof Jack Nyeko Pen’Mogi
The Kyambogo University Public Relations Officer, Mr Lawrence Madete, said if they fail to get the money, the university would “continue operating as it has been operating”.
“But for us to offer better Ivy League university services, that money would come in handy,” Mr Madete told Daily Monitor.
Vocationalise education
The Chancellor, Dr Eric Adriko, said there was need to vocationalise education in order to address the shortage of jobs to absorb graduands.
“Deliberate efforts should be undertaken to re-orient the education system towards equipping learners with skills aimed at job creation rather than job seeking,” Dr Adriko said.
Already, the Uganda People’s Defence Force has approached the university to train more of its officers to boost the army’s engineering department.
This is the first time that the university is holding a graduation for two days, something the VC attributed to the large number of graduands.
A total of 6, 182 students will be awarded degrees, diplomas and certificates over the two-day graduation. Of these, 2,699 are female and 3,483 male.
Fifty-five students got first class diplomas whereas 102 students got first class degrees. (Daily Monitor)