How a vocational path can become short cut to your child's success

How a vocational path can become short cut to your child's success

KAMPALA. For a very long time, vocational education has been considered as a career path for academically weak learners. And it is this negative impression that has made many school going children distaste vocational education. But today, this branch of education is slowly but surely taking root because of the increasing success stories from some individuals who opted for hands-on courses over theoretical learning.

“For a very long time I had intense  loathing of vocational education, but when my elder brother Dominic Kiggundu enrolled  for  a  carpentry course and later became self employed, it  motivated  me to enroll as well and I don’t regret  ,”  Christopher Lukwago    ,30 reminiscences

Unlike Kiggundu who studied carpentry at Mubende Community Polytechnic, Lukwago opted for agricultural training at Mbuye   Farm School in Rakai.

“It shocked my parents when I made such a decision .It took me a month to convince my mother because she wanted me to at least first complete Senior Four before joining a vocational institution,” he says 

Lukwago’s situation illustrates what many parents do when their children tell them to drop the traditional theoretical learning and try the vocational path. But taking the right decision at the right time, Lukwago says it has helped him transform his life.

“ The agricultural course a took ( a junior certificate  in tropical agriculture ) was a big stepping stone and the knowledge I acquired is the one I am currently using to run the farm ,” he says

Lukwago is the care taker his family farm in Mpigi District measuring 20 acres. On the farm, they have 15 acres of pineapples, oranges, and tomatoes, five acres for rearing Friesian cows, kuroiler chicken and goats where he fetches Shs 50million monthly. 

“After paying salaries for the 20 workers and clearing other operational costs, I remain with Shs25million and there are very few office jobs that can pay that,” he says

He says he currently plans to enroll for a diploma in animal production and management and consequently a degree .

Just like in previous years, some students will miss out on joining O’ Level due to limited vacancies or fees.

But business, technical, vocational, education and training institutions (BTVET) can absorb them. Primary 7 leavers can go to community polytechnics and business schools.

These institutions offer practical skills, enterprise-based and on-the job training programmes.

The good news is that most institutions offering technical courses are free. The government pays 220,000 per student under free secondary education in the institutions per term.

Mr Ilahi Mansoor, the assistant commissioner of BTVET, says a person who completes P7 can qualify as a professional in two or three years if they choose a hands-on course. He says many parents are not aware that there are over 30 government technical institutions countrywide that admit P.7 leavers. 

“What many people forget is that taking a practical course enables one to move out of school as a job creator instead of a job seeker,” Mr Mansoor

says.

He says some pupils apply for the courses before sitting P7 while others consider the option after receiving their result. But to be eligible, Mr Mansoor says one must have scored between four and 28 aggregates.

“We encourage our learners to consider this option as first choice,” Mr Mansoor says.

Education minister Jessica Alupo says it does not matter when one attains the skills as long as they can be helpful to shape his or her life.

“The challenge before us is to fight the stigma towards vocational training. Vocational courses are beneficial to very one and we putting more emphasis marketing our programmes,” Ms Alupo says.

Mr Fredrick Ssempala, an education analyst and a strong advocate for technical education says there is still a lot to be done to change the mindset of Ugandans towards vocational education.

“We will not solve unemployment problem without skills. It takes a long time to change the mindset that advocates for going to a secondary school instead of a technical one. But in the long run, that is where we are going. The choice begins at home with parents. It starts at a family

level,” he says.

Vocational schools can change one’s fortunes but poorly funded

There are also 56 BTVET technical

schools and community

polytechnics implementing free

secondary education with 40 being

government-aided while 16

private.

Each community polytechnic

or technical school is expected

to admit 60 new entrants on government

sponsorship but those

with expanded infrastructure

are encouraged to enroll more,

according to Mr Ilahi Mansoor,

the assistant commissioner of

BTVET. This means all the institutions

will enroll 3,360 students.

“We would like to enroll more

but our resource envelope as a

sub-sector has stagnated at 4.5

per cent of the entire ministry

budget,” Mr Mansoor says.

The commissioner says enrollment

in such institutions has

drastically dropped, which he

attributes to lack of career guidance

to students.

“Graduates under this programme

complete their education

when they are still young

(16-18 years) and when they join

employment, they are seen as

minors who cannot do anything,

which is a wrong misconception,”

he says.

Since the introduction of USE

in 2007, there have been calls

from education experts to allow

students choose a career path after

S2. They argue that a learner

would be allowed nine years of

compulsory basic education before

choosing to proceed to S3 or

take a path in vocational training.

Mr Mansoor says a final decision

on whether government will accept

the policy shift will be taken

at a stakeholders’ conference

expected this year.

SOME TECHNICAL SCHOOLS

Namasale Techincal School

Wera Techincal School

Atiak Technical School

Apac Technical School

Inde Technical

Bukooli Technical School

Hakitengya Community Polytechnic

Kitagata Farm School

Lumino Community Poly

Mulagi Voc.Trainning  Inst

Dokolo Technical

St Joseph’s Technical Sch.Gulu

Bobi Community Polytechnic Sch

St Joseph Voc Training Centre Muntume

Poineer Technical Institute

Rweiziringiro Tech.Sch

Kakira Community Poly Tech

Kizinga Technical School

Rukore Community Polytechnic

St Joseph’s Technical Virika

Ssese Farm School

Uganda Society For The Deaf V.T.C

St Joseph Voc.Trn Centre

St Josephs Technical School Kyarubingo

Kihiihi Comm.Poly

Kihanda TechSch

Kapchorwa Technical School

Katakwi Techincal School

Obyen Community Polytechnic

Koboko Technical School

Kumi Techincal School

Ave Maria Vtc

Bowa Community Polytechnic

Namisindwa Technical School

Omugo Techincal School

St Kizito Technical School Kitovu

Bungokho Rural Devt Centre

Mbale M.C Polytechnic

Rwentanga Farm School

Kakiika Technical School

KadogO Community Polytec

Ngugo Technical School

Rwampara Farm School

St Daniel Comboni Polytechnic Naoi

Bukalagi Technical School

Mubende Com.Polytechnic

Nile Vocational Institute

Uganda Honey Bee Keepers

Pacer Community Polytehnic

Acaba Technical School

Pajule Technical

Nagwere Technical School

Ssanje Community Polytechnic