Makerere
administrators should involve students in planning and decision making
Over the years, Makerere University has tried to adopt
and implement a number of policies, such as privatisation, 60% tuition policy
and other policies that come as a result of recommendations made through
reports such as the Omaswa report, etc in order to curb the problems of
Uganda’s premier University.
In his speech given at the swearing in ceremony about
two weeks ago at the university’s main building, Mr. Ivan Bwowe the guild
president highlighted that he was ready to fight for students’ representation
on the various university committees. He kept on noting that students were
shareholders not stake holders in Makerere.
Whereas the move towards implementing most of these
policies in the University is for noble cause and well mentioned, it creates a
lot of misunderstandings between the University council, students body and its
leadership where some students feel that perhaps the policies are rather harsh
and unfair and meant to eliminate most of whom come from not well-to-do back
grounds.
Therefore in my submission, I think the university
leadership must plan well for the smooth shift and changes that are to always
occur. This I say basing on the fact that most of the changes come with some inconveniences
hence people might find it difficult to immediately leave their comfort zones.
If the university really wants to prosper and
progress, the top officials should have picked a leaf or two from the previous
strikes ranging from students’, academic staff and support staff lay down of
tools all of which mostly are just a result of lack of coordination, and
misinformation.
When the consumers of the services instigate
disgusts and complaints about the programme that you are bringing to them, then
it might lead to diversion of resources, attention and time to implementation.
And in most cases it might attract politicians who might come in to incite/
cause the undesirable moral virtues.
In August 2013, when the lecturers went on strike
and the university authorities declared closure of the University for about 2
weeks, most of the repercussions were faced by students ranging from increased
hostel fees, meals and others and eventually impacting on the second semester.
All these were a result of the University’s failure to raise funds to meet the
dons pay rise.
Therefore I call upon the University’s leadership to
always implement with regard to the people for whom the services are intended.
This can be achieved by always engaging both ‘stake holders’ and ‘shareholders,’
through asking for their views, and suggestions and allowing for representation
on various committees to make people feel they are part of the system.
The university cannot work in isolation of students.
And in addition, students here at campus are reasonable enough to also
contribute towards the university’s progress. Together we shall have the glory
of this mighty institution revived.
Whereas the university administration has been
trying to implement most of these policies, it has experienced numerous
resistances from students partly because students are not thoroughly informed
of the prevailing changes.
The writer is a
student of Journalism and communication at Makerere University.
For criticism,
comments supplements please send me an email on 47davidson@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment