Education
Over 1,300 Graduate from CEES during the 72nd Graduation
It was dance and jubilation as Makerere University on Tuesday 24th May 2022 awarded PhDs, masters, post graduate diplomas and degrees to 1,398 students of the College of Education and External Studies (CEES). The ceremony, on the second day of the 72nd graduation, saw five people awarded Doctor of Philosophy Degrees, 52 students received Masters degrees, 20 of whom were female while 66 students received post graduate Diplomas in various fields.
The college graduated 1,275 undergraduate students. The Bachelor of Medical Education has 28 male and 25 female students graduate, the Bachelor of Adult and Community Education had a total of 90 graduates (33 females and 57 male student). The Bachelor of Science with Education had 227 graduates (168 males and 59 females), the Bachelor of Education say 114 males and 91 female students graduate while the Bachelor of Arts with Education saw 700 students receive degrees, 216 of whom are male while 484 were female.
In his remarks, the Chancellor Makerere University, Prof. Ezra Suruma, congratulated the graduates upon this milestone and reminded the two graduating Colleges, the College of Education and External Studies and College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, that agriculture and education sectors are the backbone of Uganda’s economy.
Prof. Suruma said the education sector needs drastic improvements in the performance of children in Universal Primary Education (UPE) in particular. Government has made a drastic achievement in declaring universal access to education: UPE in 1997 and USE in 2007, he said. “Children no longer have to walk 10 miles as I did to access primary education,” Prof. Suruma emphasized.
But the standard of education in UPE schools requires remarkable improvement, he remarked. For example, performance of UPE pupils in literacy and numeracy tests has been known to be as low as 50 percent nationally in some years. “We cannot as a country afford primary school graduates who cannot read and write nor count correctly.”
The Chancellor decried the high level of corruption in the country, saying we face a fundamental challenge as a nation to create, manage and maintain institutions that provide efficient and honest services to our people.
With the introduction of the parish model, the Chancellor said we all face a fundamental challenge as a nation to create, manage and maintain institutions that provide efficient and honest services to our people.
He advised the graduands to copy from their parents and sponsors the example of love they have showed them. “I pray that you will be active citizens, compassionate neighbors who seek to improve your communities, nation and the entire world. Initially, your focus is finding a job which is only appropriate; however, don’t lose sight of making impact on those that you meet wherever you go, he concluded. He asked the graduates to read 1Thessalonians 1:3 to guide them in their new paths.
Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere University also congratulated the graduand and thanked them for their perseverance during the Covid 19 pandemic and subsequent lockdowns which greatly affected the education sector.
Prof. Nawangwe thanked the government of Uganda for the Shs30 billion that the government has committed to support research at Makerere University. “This fund has transformed Makerere. More than 700 grants have been allocated and more than 500 innovations recorded, many with potential for commercialization and a number of policy briefs have been developed,” Prof. Nawangwe said. Makerere, he said now boasts of the biggest research budget in Africa. “Our challenge now is transforming our research and Innovations into goods and services to fuel the economy”.
The university has over the years partnered with various organization and universities across the world. In the recent past, the university has partnered with universities in Somalia, South Sudan and Mozambique in an effort to help these partner universities grow their research capacity.
On infrastructure development, the VC highlighted the recently opened Dental School and Hospital, the central teaching facilities, the university wall and the ongoing reconstruction of the main building.
Prof. Nawangwe reminded the graduands and Parents of the 100 years that the university will be climaxing on October 8, 2022 and requested them to participate in these celebrations.
He asked the graduands to be the ambassadors of the university. “Go and put to good use the knowledge you have received from one of the best universities in the World to change your communities, your Country and humanity. Put your trust in God and honour your parents and opportunities will be opened for you,” he concluded.
At the end of the 5-day graduation, a total of 12,474 graduands will have received degrees and diplomas of Makerere University. Of these, 100 will graduate with PhDs, 1,236 with Masters degrees and 10,998 with Bachelors Degree and 140 with diplomas.
Education
Call For Applications: Small Scale Action/Field Research Grants on TELLS Project for Senior Researchers at Makerere University
In an ambitious move to enhance early childhood development, researchers from Makerere University’s College of Education and External Studies are advocating for the integration of nutrition education into the training programs for early childhood development (ECD) teachers. This groundbreaking initiative aims to equip future educators with essential knowledge and skills to foster healthy eating habits among young learners, potentially leading to significant improvements in their cognitive development, academic performance, and long-term health outcomes.
The Call for Integration
Led by Dr. Josephine Esaete, the research team highlighted the critical role of nutrition in the overall development and well-being of young children. Dr. Esaete emphasized that teachers, particularly those in early childhood education, have a unique opportunity to shape the eating habits and nutrition knowledge of their students. By incorporating nutrition education into teacher training programs, educators can become powerful agents of change, promoting healthy behaviors that will benefit children throughout their lives.
“By integrating nutrition education into teacher training programs, we can ensure that early childhood teacher educators are equipped with the necessary knowledge to promote healthy eating habits and behaviors among young children,” Dr. Esaete said during the dissemination workshop.
A Holistic Approach
The dissemination of the research and launch of the recommendation report saw a strong emphasis on collaboration. The research team underscored the importance of a cooperative effort between schools, parents, and community organizations to guarantee children access to nutritious foods both at school and at home. This holistic approach aims to address food insecurity and promote overall health and well-being among students, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, where malnutrition is a significant issue. In Uganda, alarming statistics reveal that 49% of child deaths are associated with malnutrition, and a substantial proportion of school-age children suffer from stunting, underweight, thinness, and obesity.
Prof. Anthony Muwagga Mugagga, the principal of the college, reinforced the need for this comprehensive strategy, urging the focus to extend beyond early childhood learners to include those in universal primary education who often face hunger. He highlighted the necessity of addressing food insecurity across all educational settings to ensure that children have access to nutritious meals.
Ms Harriet Adong, who represented the Makerere University Research and innovation fund, the funding agency congratulated the research team saying that the proposed guidelines are crucial for promoting the health and well-being of young children in schools. She also emphasized the importance of ongoing research and collaboration to ensure effective implementation of these guidelines.
Implementing the Vision
The project activities, already initiated in five primary teacher colleges including Bishop Willis CPTC and St. Aloysius Core Primary Teachers College, aim to make lasting changes in the curriculum. Dr. Esaete and her team are working on a policy brief to advocate for these changes at the governmental level, aiming to influence the Department of Teacher Education, Training, and Development at the Ministry of Education and Sports.
Key recommendations from the study include:
- Sensitizing ECD teacher trainees about the MoES (2013) school feeding guidelines.
- Encouraging teacher training colleges to embrace these feeding guidelines.
- Continuous parental sensitization on providing healthy and safe midday snacks for children.
- Initiating nutrition interventions that start with teacher education.
- Reworking the content of nutrition courses taught to ECD teacher trainees to incorporate emerging global nutrition issues relevant to their professional practice.
Paving the Way Forward
The research team, comprising Dr. Josephine Esaete, Mr. Edward Kansiime, Dr. Gaston Ampeire Tumuhimbise, Dr. Michael Walimbwa, and Dr. Alfred Buluma, is committed to seeing these recommendations take root. Their efforts signify a proactive step towards creating a supportive environment where children can learn about nutrition and make healthy choices, ultimately shaping the well-being of the next generation.
As these initiatives progress, the hope is that by equipping educators with the right tools and knowledge, the cognitive development and health of young children in Uganda, and potentially across Sub-Saharan Africa, will see significant improvement. The integration of nutrition education into early childhood development teacher training is not just a proposal; it’s a necessary evolution in educational practice that promises to nurture healthier, more informed future generations.
Education
CEPIDE Study Identifies Challenges and Solutions for Low Doctoral Completion Rates in Universities
A recent study by the Capability Enhancement Project for Innovative Doctoral Education at Ugandan Universities (CEPIDE) reveals significant challenges in the country’s doctoral education system. The study, conducted over the period 2011-2024, underscores low conversion and completion rates among doctoral candidates in Uganda, raising concerns about the future of the nation’s research and innovation capacity.
The study findings were released during a dissemination workshop held on May 30, 2024 at Makerere University.
Key Findings:
- Low Transition Rates: Only 7.6% of master’s graduates advanced to doctoral studies.
- Enrollment Figures: Public institutions enrolled approximately 1,903 doctoral students from 2011 to 2020.
- Completion Rates: Of these, only 69.6% completed their doctoral programs by 2024, amounting to just 1,324 graduates.
- Institutional Disparities: Makerere University dominated doctoral completions, accounting for 81.4% of the total.
- Gender Disparity: Female graduates represented only 33.8% of doctoral completions.
- STEM Focus: 58% of doctoral completions at Makerere University were in STEM fields.
Challenges Identified:
The study highlights several constraints impacting the doctoral pipeline, including:
- Supervision Challenges: Insufficient support and resources for doctoral supervisors.
- Situational Factors: External and personal circumstances affecting students’ ability to complete their studies.
- Institutional Factors: Lack of robust support systems within universities.
- Student Characteristics: Variability in students’ preparedness and resilience.
The team also used the same forum to unveil and launch a course module intended to equip supervisors with more skills. The course named Innovative Doctoral Supervision for the 21st Century: Specialized Capacity Building Training Course for Doctoral Supervisors in Uganda.
Speaking at the launch, the guest of honour, the ED of the NCHE, represented by Dr. Norah Miliira underscored the importance of doctoral studies saying NCHE recognizes the need for critical high-level knowledge and skills to power Uganda’s economy through research and Innovations. Dr. Muliira noted that NCHE had proposed to government to include a National Research Fund in its planning in an effort to support doctoral research.
Prof. Julius Kikooma, the Dean East African School of Higher Education and Development, advised that if we are to meet the development needs of the country, we ought to produce 1,000 PhDs every year.
Prof. Anthony Mugagga, the Principal of CEES called on NCHE to formulate PhD policies that have crosscutting courses, a thing he said would help in quality assurance.
The Executive Secretary-Uganda National Council for Science & Technology, in a speech read for him by Ms Beth Mutumba said the council is set to establish a research integrity code of conduct for which universities will have institutionalized policies to cab unethical practices and continue dissemination of the national regulatory frameworks.
Dr. Hamis Mugendawala who represented the ED of National Planning Authority cautioned universities against focusing on training more PhDs but rather focus on training quality PhDs in skills scarce areas. He pledged NPA’s support in implementing some of the key recommendations of the study.
The research is funded by the government of Uganda through the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund. Represented by Prof. Robert Wamala, the MakRIF chair, Prof. Fred Masagazi-Masaazi, congratulated the research team upon the study and said that the findings will be crucial in guiding policy makers and stakeholders in addressing the skills gap in the country. He emphasized the importance of collaboration between universities and government agencies to ensure that research outcomes are effectively utilized for national development. He appreciated government’s support to the university.
Conclusions: The study concludes that Uganda’s doctoral pipeline is “leaky and constrained,” resulting in low participation in graduate education and subsequently fewer researchers in the national system. This shortfall affects the country’s ability to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 9.5 and hampers progress toward national development goals. Additionally, the underrepresentation of women in research careers may further impede efforts to attain gender parity.
Recommendations:
CEPIDE proposes several measures to address these issues:
- National Framework: Development of a national framework for doctoral education to enhance quality and accountability.
- Research Culture: Promotion of a supportive research culture, ensuring proper funding and resources.
- Supervisor Training: Mandatory training and certification for doctoral supervisors.
- Equity Initiatives: Affirmative actions to boost female participation in doctoral programs and research careers.
- Quality Assurance: Establishment of a specialized quality assurance system for doctoral education.
- Institutional Support: Enhanced support services for graduate students, focusing on information, resources, and personal wellbeing.
Implications for the Future:
These recommendations aim to bolster Uganda’s research and innovation ecosystem by improving the doctoral education pipeline. Implementing these measures is crucial for increasing the number of doctoral graduates, enhancing research capacity, and fostering national development. The focus on gender parity and STEM fields aligns with Uganda’s strategic priorities, but addressing systemic issues in the doctoral education system remains essential for sustained progress.
About CEPIDE:
The Capability Enhancement Project for Innovative Doctoral Education at Ugandan Universities (CEPIDE) is part of the Makerere University Research and Innovation Fund (Mak-RIF). It is funded by the Government of Uganda to support impactful research and innovation, aiming to align academic outputs with national development priorities.
As Uganda continues to position itself as a knowledge society, the findings and recommendations of the CEPIDE study offer a roadmap for strengthening doctoral education and, by extension, the nation’s research and innovation potential.
Research Team:
Dr. Irene Etomaru, Dr. Tom Darlington Balojja, Dr. Louis Theophilus Kakinda
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