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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Makerere University has adjusted the dates for the end-of-semester two examinations.
Last week, Makerere University and other higher education institutions adjusted their academic calendars to accommodate the upcoming National Population and Housing Census 2024, as directed by the Ministry of Education.
The National Population and Housing Census 2024 is scheduled to commence on May 10 and conclude on May 19, 2024, spanning 10 days, prompting universities to modify their academic schedules accordingly.
At Makerere University specifically, the ongoing semester, initially was supposed to end on May 12, had its examinations extended to start on May 21 and conclude on June 11, 2024.
This adjustment meant that students were to endure nearly six months for a semester that traditionally lasts four months. This caused concerns among Government-sponsored students who rely heavily on allowances for sustenance.
Following several complaints from stakeholders, Makerere University has now decided to reverse its earlier decision and push the examination dates closer.
According to a new circular from the Academic Registrar Professor Buyinza Mukadasi, addressed to all College Principals, the University resolved that the exams will start on May 21st and end on June 11th.
“The University received a circular from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports guiding all Universities to release their students so that they can participate in the forthcoming National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) exercise scheduled to take place from 10th to 20th May 2024. In compliance with the directive, the Chairperson, on behalf of the University Senate approved an adjustment in the Semester and Examination Calendar to start on Tuesday, 21 May, and end on 11 June 2024.” reads part of the circular dated 8th April 2024.
“However, we have since received feedback from different stakeholders requesting us to reconsider the early scheduled dates. In order to respond to the feedback, the University Management has decided that the Examinations of Semester II, 2023/2024 will now commence as had been scheduled earlier on Monday 29th April and end on Friday 24th May 2024,” Buyinza noted in the circular.
He further explained that the new schedule would exclude May 1st (International Labor Day), May 8th, 9th, and 10th, 2024, to allow students and staff to participate in the National Census and resume examinations on May 11th, 2024.
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