The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Demands for government to increase the capitation grants for National Teachers Colleges-NTCs dominated the 8th graduation ceremony of Muni National Teachers College in Arua city.
Currently, the Ministry of Education and Sports gives 1,800 Shillings to each student at the National Teachers College. The grant which is an annual contribution by the government toward the education of learners is among others meant to cover the basic necessities of students and general maintenance costs.
Over the years, the government has been asked to increase the capitation grant due to increasing costs involved in feeding the students.
Speaking during the graduation ceremony on Friday, Daisy Aliwaru, the Principal for National Teachers College Muni noted that the 1,800 shillings allocated to the NTCs for each student is insufficient to cater for the welfare of the students in the present state of the economy. She appealed to the government to increase the capitation grant to at least shillings 5000 for each student.
Professor Elly Katunguka, the Vice Chancellor of Kyambogo University acknowledges the challenge of meager capitation grant which he says cuts across several education institutions. He however says the government is aware of the challenge.
Jonathan Kamwana, the commissioner of teacher education training and development who represented the State Minister for Higher Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo says the ministry has embarked on a number of reforms to transform the sector.
In May this year, the Ministry of Education and Sports increased the capitation grant for several levels of education as one of the ways of improving service delivery in the sector. However, the increases have been effected in primary schools, special needs schools (both primary and secondary), public technical institutions, community polytechnics, and health training institutions.
A total of 1,050 students graduated with diplomas in secondary and primary education awarded by Kyambogo University. According to the results, 51% of the graduates got distinction and 49% in other grades. Since its establishment, Muni NTC has graduated over 13,000 human resources into the job market.
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