ECD teaching institutions register drop in student enrollment

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |  There is a drastic drop in the number of learners enrolling in institutions offering Early Childhood Development (ECD) courses. This follows the decision by the Ministry of Education and Sports not to reopen preprimary education institutions for fear that they may not comply with the coronavirus prevention measures.

Some of the institutions visited by our reporters reported poor enrollment for the 2020/ 2021 academic years, which they attribute to the government’s decision not to reopen pre-primary schools. Charles Mubiru, the Director Kikaaya Vocational school says that a big number of students admitted for the nursery-teaching course have not shown up.

Mubiru indicates that only three of the 40 students they enrolled on the program prior to the closure of schools in March 2020 turned up. He says they are finding it hard to maintain staff without any clear knowledge when the government will reopen pre-primary schools. 

Leonard Walusimbi, the academic registrar Buganda Royal Institute of Business and Technical Education says that the closure of nursery schools has affected the admission of students enrolling for the nursery teaching courses both at the certificate and diploma levels. Mubiru also says that the indefinite closure of the schools has also affected the morale of students, who were already on the course.   

According to Walusimbi, they often admit students for the nursery-teaching course in April and August.  He, however, says that because of the COVID-19 they temporarily changed the intake to suit the situation. He, however, says that less than 30 of the 120 students enrolled for the course have shown up. 

Zakaria Turyaba, the Academic Registrar YMCA, says that the number of applicants is still very low compared to the usual intake. Turyaba says that they often enrol a maximum of 80 students for the ECD course at both certificate and Diploma levels.

He also believes the decision by the government not to reopen ECD schools might have led to a drop in enrollment. He is optimistic that things will improve once the government reopens nursery schools.

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URN