The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob Oboth Oboth, has pledged to advocate for policy measures that will enable private education institutions to access funding and other forms of government support to ease their growing operational costs.
Oboth said the high cost of running private higher education institutions was affecting their ability to provide affordable and quality education, a situation he warned could contribute to rising school dropout rates among vulnerable learners.
He made the remarks during the 16th graduation ceremony of Makerere Business Institute (MBI), where more than 500 students were awarded diplomas and certificates in various professional disciplines.
The Speaker said Parliament should consider measures that support private education providers because of their contribution to developing Uganda’s human resource base.
He also called for concerted efforts to keep vulnerable children and young people in school, warning that dropping out exposes them to risks including teenage pregnancy, child labour, drug abuse and mental health challenges.
Oboth commended the management of MBI for what he described as its emphasis on discipline, moral values and professional training among students.
Representing the Bishop of Namirembe Diocese, Dr. Stephen Kazimba Mugalu, the Assistant Bishop of Kampala Diocese, Rt. Rev. Frederick Jackson Baalwa, urged parents to encourage their children to pursue education as a pathway to economic empowerment.
Baalwa further called on the Government to strengthen programmes supporting vulnerable youth through vocational skills training and the provision of start-up tools to enable graduates to create employment opportunities for themselves and others.
Former Makerere University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mondo Kagonyera, who was the chief guest, challenged the graduates to utilise the skills acquired at MBI to pursue professional careers and improve their employability.
The MBI Director, Hon. Nathan Itungo, used the occasion to present a number of policy recommendations to the Speaker, calling for greater government support to private education institutions.
Itungo urged the Government to establish funding mechanisms to help private institutions meet technical and operational costs, arguing that such support would strengthen their capacity to deliver quality education.
He also called for the creation of a special fund to support orphans and other vulnerable learners classified under special-needs categories so that they can access and complete higher education.
On taxation, Itungo appealed to the Government to reduce or exempt education institutions from some taxes, saying the heavy tax burden had contributed to the closure of several institutions.
He congratulated the graduates, their parents and other stakeholders for supporting MBI over the past 33 years, during which the institution has provided business and professional training to thousands of Ugandans.
The ceremony brought together education leaders, government officials, parents, graduates and other stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of the graduating class.
