KAMPALA – A section of MPs has called on the Ministry of Education and Sports to investigate why Uganda Christian University (UCU) had defied the presidential directive on closing all institutions of learning to help control the spread of Coronavirus in Uganda.
During Wednesday’s plenary sitting, Gilbert Olanya raised concern over the directive given by the management of UCU asking students to prepare for online examination and to clear fees arrears before sitting for exams, describing the directive as unfair to both students and parents.
In response, John Muyingo, State Minister for Higher Education promised Parliament that the Ministry of Education was going to investigate the matter, insisting that all institutions were supposed to abide by the directive to suspend all activities.
However, the same matter was raised again by Jacob Opolot, Chairperson Education Committee who asked the Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda to provide guidance regarding the Management of UCU who have gone ahead contrary to the Presidential directive, to ask students to prepare for Online Exams and asking parents/guardians to clear the school fees arrears.
The University has stood by its position on having all students undertake online exams starting April 6th 2020 saying their policy is within the presidential directive that called on institution of learning to come up with innovative ways to continue business.
UCU also issued a statement on its Facebook through the Vice Chancellor, John Senyonyi calling on students to disregard rumours making rounds that the exams had been called off, adding that the University is committed to helping it’s students and would provide internet data for students to download the examinations.
Senyonyi said, “I don’t want you to grow lax about preparing for your exams. It is our commitment to help you complete your Easter semester 2020, so that when you return for your studies, you will not need to retake your final week of study exams which would cost you since the University is expending on this exercise.”
