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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Makerere University will abolish evening courses starting with the new intakes for the 2018/2019 academic year as it takes steps to reducing undergraduate student numbers, increasing graduate student admissions and cutting costs.
All continuing students of Makerere University currently enrolled on the evening programmes will however continue with their studies until successful completion.
The move away from evening, to complete day programmes was announced today by Makerere Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe at a press briefing at the university on Friday
Nawangwe said that at a meeting on March 14 2018, the University Council resolved that all new students (freshers) starting with the coming Academic Year 2018/2019 will be admitted to study various academic programmes at Makerere University on either the day programme from 8.00am to 5.00pm or on the afternoon programme from 2.00pm to 6.00pm.
“Colleges are however allowed to run evening programmes after filling the minimum enrolment on day and afternoon programmes,” said Nawangwe.
He indicated that other than improving standards by focussing on research, cost was also a factor in the decision. Other decisions taken by the university include abolishing of catering services.
“In terms of facilities to facilitate this revised teaching schedule, we plan to make use of the new space that came online with the completion of the Central Teaching Facilities 1 and 2, as well as all spaces that used to serve as dining facilities in the halls of residence. Some of the funds that will be saved as a result of this innovation will go towards offsetting the University debt,” he said.
Nawangwe revealed that he had also constituted a committee to review the evening teaching programme with a view of defining alternative ways of remunerating staff who teach on the evening programme and large classes in the absence of the incentive.
On research, Prof Nawangwe said that in line with their proposed Strategic Plan 2020-2030 and as recommended by the Visitation Committee Report, Makerere University should become a research-led university.
“This will necessitate reducing our undergraduate student numbers and increasing our graduate student admissions. We believe that there exists a critical number of Universities in Uganda to handle the training of undergraduate students and only Makerere University has the capacity to produce the Masters and PhD graduates that will be needed to facilitate undergraduate training and the development of the country at large,” he said.
The Vice Chancellor then provided updates on various initiatives undertaken by the university Management as well as the upcoming MakRun 2018.
He was joined at the press briefing by Dean of Students Cyriaco Kabagambe, Acting Director Gender Mainstreaming Directorate (GMD) Dr. Euzobia Mugisha Baine and the Acting Director Legal Affairs Goddy Muhumuza.
No more catering services
He confirmed the abolition of catering services for the current resident 2000 students, expounded on centralised marking, the Students’ Guild Elections 2018 and the University response to the Visitation Committee Report.
Out of the 6000 government students, 4000 are non resident and cater for their feeding while 2000 reside in halls. The University has over 30,000 students, a figure that shot up from about 8000 after the evening programmes were introduced two decades back.
The late day programmes were popular with undergraduates, who would work all day, then go for evening classes after 5pm.
“It was becoming increasingly uneconomical for the University to continue providing food for students residing in Halls of residence. The University Council unanimously agreed to stop providing meals in the Halls of Residence effective June 2018. With this Council resolution, each Government sponsored student will receive sh476,000 per semester for feeding,” he announced.
Prof. Nawangwe further reiterated the University’s zero tolerance to sexual harassment and said that a committee headed by Prof. Sylvia Tamale, had been instituted to further investigate any related matters at university level and make recommendations to improve the policy and regulations.
“The Committee will also receive feedback from the University community and members of the public on any additional cases of sexual harassment and refer them to the respective Unit Committees for further investigation,” he said, adding “We thank the media for helping us to expose cases of sexual harassment but request you to always be objective in your reporting.”
COMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT MAKERERE UNIVERISITY by The Independent Magazine on Scribd
