Make university education productive and applicable

I think what we need now; at university level is productive learning.

Let’s look at it this way: you attend seven years of primary school, six years of secondary school then three to five years of university education before you are considered employable.

This is for those who are lucky to make it to university. On average, we are talking about 17 years of investment without pay-off! For those who start school at age seven, it means wasting about 10 potential productive years without earning a dime! For someone seeking to earn a living out of education, this is a very long time to wait, and yet there is even no guarantee that you will get a job after you graduate!

I think what we need now; at university level is productive learning.
Otherwise getting a university degree that you are not going to use to earn a living is senseless! For instance, what can a student do if they can’t find a professional job? Are there any alternative means of survival? There is need to re-examine our country’s sectors of production to identify potential alternative sources of income in response to market forces of demand and supply. What are Ugandan families doing?

It’s time to change perceptions about educating children. Does university education guarantee a bright future? If you are talking about 30 years ago, yes, but today; no, it does not! To you the student in these tough times, the only one who can determine your future is you and the choices your parents or guardians make for you before you join university matter a lot.

A university degree can increase your chances of success but your choices on what you study, where you study and what you do after you graduate are more important today than 3 decades ago. The saying ‘mbu’ “your future is in your hands” comes in handy.

Higher education in Uganda is now clearly a commodity, whose value is steadily decreasing as demand increases. Which reminds me of that supply-demand curve in economics; we are way past equilibrium! I am convinced that in the meantime, we may be better off individualising this problem and finding solutions that are within our reach.
Some of us have managed to get something out of the system even with its flaws and I know many who have access to the right resources will emerge victorious as well but for the wider majority, the odds are not in their favour. So if you are a student aiming at government sponsorship, aim for the very best and make the most out of it. And if you have to pay for your degree, then you must ensure that you get value for your money or else, put your money, in something more productive, secure your pockets then go back to school later to get your degree if you really need it.

wanasolo@alumni.ntnu.no