NCHE tasks institutions to do holistic training

Sensitisation. The National Council for Higher Education director of finance, Mr Arthur Babu Muguzi, addresses leaders at Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara on Friday. PHOTO BY RAJAB MUKOMBOZI

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Employment. Officials say institutions should also train students to be morally upright.

The Director of Finance at National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), Mr Arthur Babu Muguzi, has asked institutions of Higher Learning to impart values into students that make them fit for the working environment.
Mr Muguzi, who was on Friday speaking at a sensitisation workshop for academic registrars, bursars and student leaders from institutions of higher learning in western region, said employment is not entirely based on academic excellence.
“That’s why someone comes out of an institution with a First Class degree but it is useless. You bring out products who while on the job can’t say ‘sorry’, ‘thank you’; don’t want to be corrected and think they know everything,” Mr Muguzi said.
He also advised upcoming institutions not to copy and paste programmes and courses in already established institutions but come up with new and more relevant ones.
The Vice Chancellor of Bishop Stuart University, Prof Mauda Kamatenesi, said products of institutions are becoming less competitive on the job market because they lack morals.
“Employers are now getting keen on which institutions the people they employ come from. The world today does not need certificates and First Class degrees only, but also values such as tolerance and good attitude,” Prof Kamatenesi said.
Retired educationist, Prof Nganwa Baguma, in a separate interview said it is imperative to put a thread of ethics and integrity in whatever is taught.
“Teaching is useless without education of the heart. This is a reason for growing unemployment and irresponsible living among the young generation,” Prof Baguma said.
Mr Muguzi also warned institutions against aiding politicians to forge academic documents.
“We demand you to produce graduation lists and books every graduation. Some of you may want to make politicians and other people qualify by creating new books,” he said.
Mr Muguzi added that every student pursuing diploma, degree, masters and Phd is supposed to contribute Shs20,000 every year to NCHE to facilitate its running. He said many institutions have been defaulting, a reason they are sensitising.