{UAH} Help students choose careers of their interest’

If there is anything I regret not having benefited from in mu Uganda education it is the sheer absence of academic counselors. Out here there are career counselled in every grade , high and college schools. If government wants to create more jobs it should look into further "professionalizing" our education system like its doing UPDF by providing this service at all levels of education.

Matter of fact, many Ugandans think counselors are for mentally kaput or problem baboons or to do with shaky marriages only while advisers are what they think they are - advisers. Better then, if they are called Advisers than counselors. In the olden days we had matrons who, well, in the case of my schools minded children's well-being and doubled as first-aid attendants armed with Aspirin, bandages, iodine, quinine, and if you are unfortunate, the needle (syringe). They faded in the 70s and are no more.

Help students choose careers of their interest'
Publish Date: Dec 21, 2014

The director for basic and secondary education, Yusuf Nsubuga interacts with the pioneer Mastercard Foundation graduates at Hotel Africana. (Photo credit: Juliet Kasirye)

• 
• 
• 

newvision

By Vivian Agaba

KAMPALA - Inadequate counseling and career guidance services in schools has been pointed out as a big problem hindering learners from pursuing their careers.

Yusuf K. Nsubuga, director of Basic and Secondary Education says that in many schools, teachers do not pay much attention to guiding students on how to choose suitable careers.

Focus is instead directed on grades, which eventually forces some learners to study what they are not interested in, he says.

While speaking during the inaugural graduation ceremony for the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program at BRAC in Kampala, Nsubuga emphasized that learners should follow what they are passionate about.

He said: "Some learners may be interested in pursuing sciences while others humanities. However, if for instance the student is doing a science course and fails some subjects, teachers will force him or her to change to humanities, saying the child is incapable.

"This is wrong. Let leaners continue with the courses of their choices."

But he was quick to add that teachers and parents alike should try and find out reasons for a student's poor performance in a particular study discipline.

And that they should not stop at that. Nsubuga recommended that they need to counsel and guide the student on how to overcome failure as well as provide his or her right channel to doing courses of their interest.

The maiden graduation event was held at Hotel Africana on Friday.

It was organised by BRAC-Uganda under the theme Celebrating achievements of the next generation leaders and saw a total of 115 scholars fresh from completing Senior Six under the program graduate.
 

The acting country representative BRAC Uganda, Islam Rafiqul (C), Shona Bezanson, a program manager (L) and Yusuf Nsubuga pose with some of the finishers. (Photo credit: Juliet Kasirye)

In his delivery, Nsubuga pointed out that school heads are intolerant to non-performing students and would rather force them into doing courses they (the students) do not have a liking for in order to protect the image of their institutions.

"The driving force to determine the students' careers should be passion, commitment and hard work – not credits."

Dr. Simon Peter Katongole, a lecturer from the faculty of Health Sciences at Uganda Martyrs Nkozi, advised the pioneer graduates to choose careers they love and passionate about, work hard to realize their dreams and not settle for less in life.

On his part, the country representative of BRAC Uganda, Abul Kashem Mozumder, applauded the scholars for having successfully completed their Advanced (A') Level studies under the program without any of the scholars disappointing the funders.

One of the finishers, Joan Nassuna, said she was happy to get the rare opportunity of studying for free since she comes from a financially struggling family. 

Nsubuga commended MasterCard Foundation for endeavoring to develop Uganda's youth, both at the secondary school level and the university level.

This, he said, will certainly contribute to social and economic transformation of communities and the country at large.

___________________________________

Gwokto La'Kitgum

"Even a small dog can piss on a tall Building", Jim Hightower

--
UAH forum is devoted to matters of interest to Ugandans. Individuals are responsible for whatever they post on this forum.To unsubscribe from this group, send email to: ugandans-at-heart+unsubscribe@googlegroups.com or Abbey Semuwemba at: abbeysemuwemba@gmail.com.