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Job skills for Secondary School Teachers courtesy of ELATE

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The Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Media at the School of Education, Makerere University is working on a program called E-Learning and Teacher Education (ELATE) which develops material for secondary school teachers and teacher trainees.

The Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Media at the School of Education, Makerere University is working on a program called E-Learning and Teacher Education (ELATE) which develops material for secondary school teachers and teacher trainees.

The program develops material like syllabi, examination papers, schemes of work, lesson plans, exemplary class work activities, and valuable advice and guidance which it provides on its website http://ugandaschoolresources.org/. Other materials are put on CD-ROM as well as on printed paper, to give an alternative to those who can not access the internet.

“We supplied over 800 CD-ROMs in 2008 to secondary schools within Uganda,” said the director of the program, Dr. Christopher Mugimu, adding that, “Our website was visited by more than 240,000 people in 2009.”

The program aims at achieving a number of objectives which include; use of E-delivery to provide teaching materials to trainee and practicing teachers; train a body of teacher trainers in courseware design that harnesses E-delivery possibilities; and stimulate an active research program to support learning and teacher education in Uganda.

Dr. Mugimu said that the program is designed in form of phases. The first phase ran from 2007 up to February 2009 and it focused on exploiting E-learning possibilities to deliver reading materials to teacher trainees. The second phase started in the same month under the name JOB-MARK INITIATIVE. It based itself on job-related skills with attributes like communication, punctuality, reflection and self learning, and its major focus was on entrepreneurship as a subject.

The third phase started in August 2010 to succeed the JOB-MARK INITIATIVE which ended in April 2010 and it will focus on the feedback got from those people who have been using the materials. “We will be going to the field to interview these people and see how the materials have helped them” added Dr. Mugimu.

He observed that secondary school curriculum is designed in a way that each subject is taught in isolation from others.

“So, in our program, we are designing a curriculum which will enable a student of biology or mathematics to have skills in arts subjects like entrepreneurship so as to manage their medical units if they become doctors.” He said.

The ELATE team comprises a strong entrepreneurship team, which includes: Members of the national entrepreneurship curriculum design and examination team; authors of new text books; a small enterprise advisor; teacher trainers from universities and practicing entrepreneurs.

The School of Education partners with the Open University, UK in this ELATE venture. It is funded by the England-African Partnerships in higher education (EAP) scheme which, is administered by the British council .
Many secondary school teachers including those outside Uganda have benefited from ELATE. A report on the program’s website http://ugandaschoolresources.org/ shows that teachers from Kenya, Malawi, Togo, Sierra Leone, Netherlands and The UK among others have showed their appreciation for the program.

Asked when the program would end, Dr. Mugimu reassured that the coordinators intend to carry on until program objectives were fulfilled. “We can not afford to end such a fruitful program very soon” he added jokingly.

Article by Aston Mubangizi

Denis Wamala

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NTU Global Summer School – A Unique UK Experience for Students

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NTU Global Summer School 2025

The Nottingham Trent University (NTU) Global Summer School will run from 7 July – 1 August 2025 in the heart of England.

Why join this summer?

A diverse range of credit-bearing courses
The Global Summer School offers a variety of exciting courses, from cybersecurity to creative industries, and space science to entrepreneurship – truly something for everyone! With two distinct blocks of courses, students can either dive deeper into their passions or broaden their horizons by exploring new subjects.

Explore Courses

A truly international experience
Students will join peers from many countries across the world, creating a vibrant and multicultural learning environment that enhances the global student experience.

An exciting cultural and social programme
Beyond the classroom NTU offers a full schedule of activities, including visits to iconic UK cities, sports and evening events ensuring that students make the most of their time in the UK.

A safe and welcoming destination
Nottingham is a city renowned for its safety, having earned the prestigious Purple Flag award for its excellent night-time safety and vibrant atmosphere, ensuring your students feel at home both on and off campus.

Application Deadline: 1 June 2025

Apply Today!

Limited places available – apply soon!

Don’t miss out! This is the perfect chance for students to develop new skills, make new friends and experience the best of British culture. NTU looks forward to welcoming students this summer!

Have questions? Contact NTU here! 

Mak Editor

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End of Semester Memo for Academic Year 2024/2025

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Africa, one of three On-Campus Halls of Residence for ladies, Makerere University, Kampala Uganda.

All Resident Students

1. Congratulatory Message

On behalf of Makerere University Management, I congratulate and thank you for the successful completion of Semester Two: 2024/2025.

2.End of the Second Semester

The second Semester holiday break will begin on 17th May, 2025 up to Saturday 9th August, 2025.

3. Resident Students

All resident students are expected to vacate the Halls of Residence by mid-day on Saturday, 17th May, 2025.

4. University Property

Please hand over all University property in your possession (such as: room keys, Sports & Games equipment, College property etc) before you leave the Hall of Residence.

5. Security of personal property

Please make sure that you carry with you all your property.

Dean of Students
Makerere University

Mark Wamai

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Inter-college Debate 2025 Seeks to Nurture Confident, Articulate, and Visionary Leaders

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Winners of the Inter-college debates Daphine Kemigisha and Jibiril Ssekandi (School of Law) pose for a photo with debaters and the GRCs of the Debate Union. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.

Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. The tournament was held in three preliminary rounds, followed by semi-finals and a grand finale.

The first round covered democracy and youth participation in politics, while the second round covered inequality and wealth distribution, and the third, the ban on export of raw materials. The semi-final round debated apprenticeship for blue-collar jobs, while the grand finale debated national budget allocations for healthcare and education. In the spirit of inclusivity, all colleges, including the Jinja Campus participated in the tournament.

One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
One of the preliminary rounds in session at Lumumba Hall.

Commenting on the choice of topics, the organisers noted Makerere University as a bastion of academic excellence has a profound responsibility to cultivate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future of our nation. These leaders, they added, ought to be equipped with 21st century skills of self-expression, critical thinking, and problem-solving so as to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving world.

On the whole, Makerere Inter-college Debates were conceived as a strategic initiative to foster a culture of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovation. The Debating Union aims to empower the future leaders by providing a platform for students to engage in respectful discourse, articulate their thoughts, as well as develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale. Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Daphine Kemigisha submitting at the debate grand finale.

Furthermore, the Debates serve as a platform for not only honing the intellectual prowess of students but also cultivating leadership skills, teamwork, and communication abilities that are essential for success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world. It is envisaged that this initiative will have a lasting impact on the lives of students, by exposing them to debates on topical issues that can shape the mindsets of transformative leaders our nation needs.

After a thrilling two days of debate, Daphine Kemigisha and Jibril Ssekandi from the School of Law (SoL) emerged as winners of the Makerere University Inter-college Debate Tournament 2025, while Olara Emmanuel George from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Biosecurity (CoVAB) was the Public Speech Champion, and Namujuzi Martha Mociita from the College of Business and Management Sciences (CoBAMS) was the Poetry Champion.

Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL). Organised by the Makerere Debating Union – a student-led initiative, the Inter-college Debate Tournament was held on 11th and 12th April 2025 with a vision to leave no student behind by nurturing a community of confident, articulate, and visionary leaders who will drive positive change in society. Makerere University, Kampala Uganda, East Africa.
Debate Winners; Daphine Kemigisha (Right) and Jibril Sekandi (Left) from the School of Law (SoL).

The 2025 Tournament was organized by Mayanja Owen and Nkalubo Oprah – 91st Guild Representative Councils (GRCs) of the Debate Union, Akatwijuka Arthur – Chairperson Debate Union, and Debate Union Representatives from colleges. The Uganda National NGO Forum (UNNGOF) partnered with the Debate Union to deliver the 2025 edition.

Addressing students at the award ceremony, UNNGOF’s Mr. Derrick Baluuku encouraged the youth to step out of their comfort zones and think of solutions to inspire change in their communities.

Mak Editor

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