Parliamentary Committee today started the probe on expired degrees saga following Tuesday directive by Deputy Speaker Rt.Hon.Thomas Tayebwa during the plenary sitting in response to the countrywide explosive concerns on expired courses offered in Universities and Higher Institutions of learning.
This week, a controversy rose on the media regards to expired courses termed as expired degrees awarded and taught in different public and private universities and Higher institutions. This follows the rejection of a graduate programme application by the University of Britols due to an expired undergraduate degree from Makerere University.
Though the courses are deemed expired, Makerere Vice Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe coupled with several other institutional leaders issued statements explaining that the courses/programmes are not expired but rathered not reviewed and urged Alumni to remain calm. National Council for Higher Education a body mandated for accreditation of academic and professional programmes elaborated that ‘expired’ in this case meant the timeframe for review to ascertain quality and relevance of graduates had elapsed, she summoned institutions Chancellors and Principals for a meeting slated for 1st and 2nd June on the matter.
Education Minister Hon. Muyingo defended the Ministry on ground of limited funds to carry out the review on several programmes as it requires different stakeholders to be involved which the ministry failed to finance.
This comes a week after the approval of the 52 trillion shillings for 2023/2024 financial year budget where education has been allocated 9 trillion. Though education remains one of the most funded sector, it is still struggling. The increment fund allocation is due to increased salaries for science teachers effecting this coming financial year. With everything going on, it’s not uncommon for supplementary budgets to surface something that Finance Minister Hon. Matia Kasaija advised against.
