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Justice and constitutional Minister Kahinda Otafiire while speaking at the graduation ceremony at KIU, he has challenged universities to embrace vocational skills education into their teaching programmes in a bid to produce marketable graduates.
A total of 3700 students graduated with diplomas and degrees to join thousands of others in the job market. six students were awarded doctorate degrees (PhDs), and 36 students graduated with first-class degrees in different disciplines.
Speaking at the 19th graduation ceremony for Kampala International University ( KIU ) in Kansanga on Saturday, Otafiire said youth are failing to get jobs because they learn irrelevant courses at universities.
“I urge you to embrace government skilling programme and teach vocational courses in your programmes. This will give opportunity to your students to find jobs when they graduate,” he said.
According to National council for Higher Education there over 50 private and public universities in the country.
Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Prof George Nasinyama said,“We are pleased to have this significant number of graduands, one of the biggest in our history for a single graduation session. This is clear evidence of the growing number of students that are attracted to KIU’s mix of quality of programmes, facilities, and quality academic staff,” said Prof Nasinyama.
Prof Nasinyama said KIU’s main campus has four constituent colleges and four schools; College of Education, Open and Distance Learning, College of Computing and Information Technology, College of Higher Degrees and Research, College of Professional and Extramural Studies, School of Law, School of Economics and Management, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and School of Humanities.
Since 2001, KIU has graduated over 40,000 students and as such the institution has grown progressively with regards to the numbers of students, infrastructure, and facilities, to provide a world-class education to all her students.
Last year a total of 2400 students graduated at various levels from certificate to PHD levels during the 18th graduation ceremony at the campus.
Otafiire used the occasion to launch KIU law clinic centre where vulnerable people in society will be granted free legal services as part of university corporate social responsibility programme.
Otafiire thanked KIU chairman Hassan Basajjabalaba for great business stewardship of the university and contributing to human resource development, medical out reach and supporting bright but disadvantaged students through bursaries for students to complete their university education.
KIU medical training school in western Uganda was recently voted the 4th best training centre among 80 general hospital in the country.
Statistics
World Bank figures show that more than 62 percent (4.5 million) of 7.2 million of Uganda’s youth are unemployed. Uganda National Household Survey 2012/13 says nearly 60 percent of Ugandans are below the age of 18. This means 20.4 million more youth will soon join the jobless market.
Out of the 40, 000 students estimated to graduate every year, the government only creates jobs for about 10,000 annually. The rest have to try out their luck in the private sector and those who can’t be absorbed join the thousands of others on the streets.
Check also;
- International University Of East Africa Scoops Prestigious Best Private University Award
- International University Of East Africa ( IUEA ) To Unveil Virtual Learning
- International University Of East Africa Holds Vice Chancellor’s Forum
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