Makerere centralises marking system, hikes gowns prices
Makerere University main building. At least 14 want the top students' office. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- Prof Nawangwe noted that once the system is put in place, the delays that have been registered in late release of transcripts, marks, loss of students’ scripts among others, will be no more.
- Prof Nawangwe said the university will block students from accessing the graduation grounds if they buy the gowns from the open market which are sold at Shs50, 000.
Kampala. In a bid to address delays associated with release of students’ results and transcripts, Makerere University (Mak) has centralised its marking system.
The university Vice Chancellor, Prof Barnabus Nawangwe, announced at the weekend that they had secured about Shs120 million to facilitate this process.
Prof Nawangwe noted that once the system is put in place, the delays that have been registered in late release of transcripts, marks, loss of students’ scripts among others, will be no more.
“Effective Semester I of 2017/18 academic year, all exams shall be marked centrally. This initiative is aimed at ensuring that all delays usually associated with release of students’ results are avoided,” Prof Nawangwe said during a press conference.
He noted that the university will identify examination rooms at each college where all examination scripts will be locked up and would only be availed to lecturers at the time of marking.
The acting Vice Chancellor, Finance and Administration, Prof William Bazeyo, said with the new system, there will be no cases of loss of scripts by lecturers since no one will be allowed to take scripts home.
“Students have been complaining about their lecturers losing their scripts and marks but I assure you that with the central marking system, this will not happen again,” Prof Bazeyo said.
The university also plans to issue transcripts to students immediately after their 68th graduation ceremony scheduled for January 16 to 19 next year.
According to the Academic Registrar, Mr Alfred Masikye Namoah, they have finalised printing of transcripts for students from some Colleges.
“We have embarked on the process of printing transcripts for students from the college of Health Sciences, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and the School of Law. The printing of academic transcripts for other Colleges is going on,” Mr Masikye said.
“I reiterate that all the students who would have satisfied the academic and financial requirements for graduation, and cleared with the university authorities, will be in position to receive their transcripts on the day of graduation,” he added.
Meanwhile, the university has hiked the price for customised graduation gowns from Shs75, 000 to Shs98, 000, as they ordered all graduating students to purchase them from the university senate.
The University unveiled the customised gown last year ahead of the 67th graduation ceremony for undergraduate and graduate programmes with the intention of making it compulsory during this year’s ceremony.
Prof Nawangwe said the university will block students from accessing the graduation grounds if they buy the gowns from the open market which are sold at Shs50, 000.
“We approved one company to make those gowns and we shall be able to tell which one is fake,” he said, adding that the prices were hiked due to inflation in the country.
