Makerere shouldn’t be producing mediocre graduates

Guest Writers Thursday, 19 April 2012 20:18 Written by Vincent Nuwagaba 8 Comments We claim to be knowledgeable because we have accessed Western education. But we have failed, or deliberately refused, to use our knowledge to solve our problems. Ultimately, we have allowed mediocrity to flourish. Makerere University is in the process of searching for a substantive vice chancellor, with Professor Venansius Baryamureeba’s tenure having ended. Here is what the university should focus on: Some Makerere University lecturers (certainly not all of them) solicit money from students in exchange for marks, just as some students solicit marks from lecturers in exchange for money. Some staff in the senate, who enter students’ marks also solicit money from students in exchange for better grades, just as some students solicit better grades in exchange for money. I am at pains to reveal this grim reality, as many people are aware, but have not had the wherewithal to have this information published. But like Norbert Mao says, “you cannot treat a cancer with Vaseline”: we cannot solve problems without tackling their root causes. I reveal this not because I hate Makerere University, which is my alma mater, but because I love the institution dearly and I fell in love with its motto “We build for the future” when I joined it. The press has reported about cases of sex in exchange for marks in the same institution before and these reports cannot just be dismissed. While appearing on a UBC TV show on March 6, 2008, I stated that because the job market favours the mediocre, the philosopher kings, if I can borrow from Plato, were busy working as coursework mercenaries, running coursework bureaus in Wandegeya and around Kikoni and Nakulabye, and I was vindicated a few weeks ago when Sunday Vision ran a comprehensive feature on coursework mercenaries. This is happening, not because the ‘academic giants’, as Dr Simba Kayunga used to call them, have no integrity, but because for them to survive in Kampala where virtually only the dirty thrive, they have to break some moral rules and trash their values. Corruption begets corruption and if one cheats in the exams, or hires mercenaries to do coursework for them, they ‘earn’ a certificate not a degree. I should add that those who buy marks usually pose around with Makerere University papers but they do not have degrees. A degree is intrinsic. It is not just a transcript or a certificate. And alas, this problem is not confined to Makerere University. During our school days, some students in relatively good schools also used to access UNEB exam papers beforehand, and they used to call it akasasi in Runyankore-Rukiga parlance. If a Law student cheats exams to be admitted to the Law programme, buys marks at LDC and he or she ends up enrolling as an advocate, what sort of advocate will he/she be? What will stop such a person from being compromised with bribes? If such a person is ultimately appointed as a magistrate or judge, what sort of justice will they dispense since from their formative stages, they will have been corrupted? Those retained as teaching assistants are selected basing on their Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). Now, if one coughs money to get good grades, what sort of lecturers are we getting for our children? If Makerere, which churns out professionals of all kinds, is promoting mediocrity, why should we be surprised that we have mediocre lawyers, teachers, physicians, pastors, and politicians? Why should we be surprised to find journalists who practise yellow journalism and do public relations instead of sticking to principles of accuracy, objectivity, impartiality, balance and attention to detail? Of course, what happens at Makerere is replicated in other institutions. If anything, in other universities it could even be worse. I remember in one of the ACODE breakfast meetings, economist Bernard Tayebwa stated that Ugandans survive through kuyiiya (cutting corners). This explains the dubious deals many Ugandans engage in. It is absurd that today, people with integrity are shunned and labelled failures while the crooks are glorified. Makerere can only build for the future by embracing integrity and leading by example. The author is a human rights defender. vnuwagaba@gmail.com < Prev Next > inShare Comments +1 #1 Betty Long Cap 2012-04-19 23:06 Vincent Nuwagaba, Uganda must be encouraged corruption of the academic community offends a youth so much he cannot remain silent. The gains of cheating and bribery are short-lived. In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change; He who does not put out his money at usury, Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be moved. Psalm 154:4-5 Quote 0 #2 Jalmoro Benard 2012-04-20 00:07 No wonder we have the likes of Mirundi if atall he attained a University degree. Quote +1 #3 julius 2012-04-20 17:34 i was in kyambogo university from 2008 to 2011, students who never attended lectures, danced every night in all kampala dancing clubs, graduated with 1st class simply b`se they were friendz to lecturers, gave money or sex. we had STM (sexually transmitted marks) in KYU in uganda its who knows to pass exams, get a job, get promotion at work or any lets Quote +1 #4 melody 2012-04-20 20:23 It is so sad that everty institution in Uganda is rotten! Please do not look at the universities alone, the grass roots are the high schools.I have a friend who sat for exams from a middle class school in masaka..(please note it is not one of the best performing ones, she confessed that all the 4 subjects question papers she did at A level were brought prior to her sitting them to the extent that during the practicals, their teacher sent out the invigilators and showed them what to do. They definitely passed with flying colours at no cost.Their headmistress did all the bribery coz she wanted to keep her post.So think about all those little known schools you see as top schools in the papers!!! where is our countty going at this rate? Quote +2 #5 MIKI 2012-04-20 21:42 Acting Vice Chancellor Baryamureba allegely cheated his way into professorship. So did many other professors and head of departments at this university. With teaches like this what do you expect? Makerere went to the dogs during Amin's time. It rolled off to the pig sty during Museveni's time. Just like everything in Uganda. Destruction of all institutions in the country will be Museveni's enduring legacy. Quote 0 #6 Mubiru 2012-04-21 15:28 Nuwagaba you have courageously spoken for all of us who got our qualifications on merit rather than monetary or sexual favours. We studied at night (burning candles as we called the night episode) while others were sleeping "under their beds". During my time, no one could ever imagine forging educational qualification to get a job or enter parliament as it is today. Can you imagine being treated by a quack medical doctor whose only qualification was to buy marks or offer sex to the so called lecturers or professors? (with a small "l and p" to define their criminality) Experience, supported by Nuwagaba's revalations forces me to despise many of the so called "learned" Uganda lawyers. Once in court my friend's lawyer had to be lectured by the Magistrate on how to present his client's case and not to utter irrelevancies before the court. No wonder the legal trade in Uganda is crammed by whoever wears a suit in Kampala streets. Quote 0 #7 denis 2012-04-22 12:03 what do you expect ,in uganda everything is possible because of coruption .its the only country where buses are being driven on the roads without road licences,insura nce and registration number plates.what a shame ??? coruption is killing every thing even to get a job you have to bribe your way.what of a country is uganda?? Quote 0 #8 Joseph obo 2012-04-22 19:06 Betty if 'short-lived' is 40 years then may be that is why many grasp evil with both hands. Besides a 1st class does not guarantee one a job or the employer a first rate employee. But if the human resource departments are always asking for applicants with certification then so be it whether they are forged or not, we will produce them after all that is what is demanded for one to get a job.