Our Current Education Status in Uganda and Africa
The early colonialists introduced the so called formal education with a purpose of extending knowledge and understanding to Africa but indirectly this was part of the master plan for slavery to keep us locked in poverty and low productivity.
Our education system has been used and never updated for the last 40 years, imagine the world has changed, transformed and instead of changing with the changing world, we have instead remained still on this theory based education.
A child starts early education for 3 years studying baby, middle and Top class, they then proceed to primary section where they push for 7 years at an average age of 12, they then go to secondary ordinary level where they study for 4 years, proceeding to advanced level which is an equivalent of college.
Imagine studying a lot of irrelevant subjects and topics that are not related to the real world out here; chemistry, biology, history surprisingly European history, divinity, English, literature and very many others.
At an average age of 19 is when someone is just crossing over to university or any tertiary institutions. This is one of the most productive age of this young man or lady but imagine they proceed to go for more theory teaching at university for at least 3 years and above.
What Happens After University.
After going through this theory education for over 16 years, all you have been trained is to study hard and enter the job market, look for a job and work for someone else.
Obviously we can never have jobs for every graduate, not even 10% of the graduates that enter the job market annually find jobs but they keep piling up every year that comes in.
Over 300000 students get into the job market from over 50 universities and institutions all-over Uganda, where do these graduates all go
There are no jobs for these graduates so looking for jobs becomes their job year in year out.
A graduate can not even start the smallest business that can earn him even 5 dollars a day just because they expect to get a big job and earn millions a month.
Almost everyone in this generation has gone to school, go on the streets and ask the motor bike riders, chapati sellers, vendors name them, these guys all have degrees but failed to get jobs and sop decided to go for quick businesses available.
What Went Wrong?
There is a common saying that education is the key to success, if that’s the case then this must have been applicable many years ago, probably the padlock changed and we still use the old key to open which can no longer work.
We are in a generation where we need more job creators, more entrepreneurs, more innovators and this calls for more practical and relevant skills to achieve.
We instead have more professors of theology, masters and degree holders, theory based teachers and governments, so really we are doomed if we don’t wake up.
Even the so-called vocational and technical institutions which would have provided a solution have lost truck now and also train job seekers in the name of practical skilling.
They are just focused on having more applicants and graduates but not minding after where these people are going and how they can be guided to translate the skills into businesses and production empires.
Skills & Business Incubation, the way to go.
We need more skills and incubation centers that will not just transfer skills but will also empower the skilled with general business principles like business modeling, marketing, branding and many others.
We must ensure that the skilled are mentored, nurtured and have the capacity to produce competitively for the market and start small with whatever they have using their practical skills.
This is why we have decided to start the first of its kind the SPARK SKILLS AND INNOVATION ACADEMY where all Ugandans who wish to become entrepreneurs and job creators will come to learn practical business skills in Agribusiness, Food processing, Art & Fashion, baking and confectionary, Cottage and industrial and Computer skill categories.
Contact us now to enroll at the academy and partner with us
Baguma Andrew
February 1, 2023I appreciate you the author of this article however I would ask you to write the same message in different languages in Uganda and be spread. It is a very good message and encouraging. Very many people who don’t access the internet they arethere suffering and ignorant. I am very happy to hear from you with this inspiring message. God bless you
Joyce Mabamba
February 1, 2023I think this is the way to go
Mohamed A. Usman
February 1, 2023This is a very good thinking foresight and a steppingstone for productive African youths. Am absolutely with you for taking this giant step.
Taurai Masara
February 3, 2023This is the way to go. Africans, it’s time for us to wake up and do our own things.
percy
February 1, 2023This is such a nice read but where should we start to implement these ideas
Sanya Emmanuel
February 1, 2023Currently those who have vocational skills are the job creators
Toolit Clapperton
February 2, 2023I do appreciate the technical information shared in this article, I am interested in bakery and confectionery traing, but my challenge is that I am based up country,
Is there long distance program for the learning?
Regards
Batro Ngilangwa
February 2, 2023This is the great idea and the only way to go for Africans
Abaho Didas
February 2, 2023Good article. Get it out as wide as possible. Good cause 👏
Kalagi Robert
February 2, 2023This is the way to go for the future generation of Africa 🌍 we need job creators not job seekers. Thanks for the initiative.
Violet
February 2, 2023Try to empower
Lucy
February 2, 2023Absolutely inspirational message to all youths in Uganda.
Okello Simon Peter
February 2, 2023This is absolutely fantastic it’s never too late for us as Africans to pick up on realising that we were misguided.
Hellen Yego
February 3, 2023Quite a game changer.
Kindly open satellite Academy in neighbouring countries.
Taurai Masara
February 3, 2023This is the way to go. Africans, it’s time for us to wake up and do our own things.
Mathews Mambo
February 3, 2023its a good idea we need to equip our people with more of technical skills. we need this type of education.
Joseph Abuni
February 4, 2023This is a noble undertaking, but for God’s sake don’t be diverted from your mission by Mr Money!
Ceaser Okot
March 12, 2023Love be part of the progressive African family
Ceaser Okot
March 12, 2023If only all African people take this direction. We would be the greatest continent on earth