By Sandra Chebet
Makerere University has started a students’ work scheme to help learners that have problems raising tuition fees and other necessities.
The scheme was started to help alleviate the grave situation of 1,000 students dropping out of the university annually because of financial challenges, regardless the various other scholarships available at the university.
While addressing a media conference in the Council Room at Makerere, vice chancellor Prof Barnabas Nawangwe announced that so far 56 students have been recruited as hall attendants and office attendants, another 10 have been attached to private companies as sales representatives.
The students under this scheme earn Shs 1.2 million monthly, work part-time with flexible schedules that don’t interfere with their studies, and earn skills in the process. Nawangwe said the number of beneficiaries will soon be raised to 100, and include diverse roles in different departments.
Relatedly, the vice chancellor announced that the University Council has set up two search committees to process the identification of competent persons to occupy the vacant positions of deputy vice chancellor for Academic Affairs and deputy vice chancellor for Finance and Administration.
The committees have 60 days to hand names to the Senate, after which the process will take another 30 days to have the successful candidates announced to the public. The University Council also recently established a one-stop Disability Support Centre at the university, in Frank Kalimuzo Central Teaching Facility.
The centre is already transforming the educational experiences of disabled learners, fostering a sense of community and equipping them with useful academic and life skills. It will also reduce the movement of disabled students from building to building.
Nawangwe also reported that the renovation of Lumumba hall, whose parts had been unoccupied for 15 years, was recently completed. The renovation of Mary Stuart hall will soon be completed, and be followed by renovation of Complex hall.
The university has also constructed two new buildings – for the school of Law and the school of Dentistry.
The school of Graduate Training and Research building, valued at $8 million, is being constructed with the largest of the funding donated by Tororo Cement Ltd.
The six-storey two-tower building of the school of Public Health with an auditorium is soon reaching completion.
This project started as an initiative of the school’s staff members; however, partners such as the governments of Uganda and Netherlands, and American Hospitals Abroad have come on board to push the project.
Lastly, the vice chancellor promised regular interactions with the media, especially at the college level, so that the public can have knowledge and understanding of the various activities, researches and products the university does.
