Secondary schools in Jinja have welcomed a move by the ministry of education to make computer studies and subsidiary mathematics compulsory at high school level in Uganda.
Both students and teachers that Uganda Radio Network spoke to, say the introduction of subsidiary mathematics and computer studies will give them an edge in a competitive, science-biased environment.
Dinah Mudibira, a senior five student studying History, Economics and Literature at St James Senior Secondary School says she picked computer studies because she had studied it at ordinary level. She also feels it is an essential subject both at school and later in life.
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Martin Lobiro, a senior five student studying Physics, Chemistry and Biology at Jinja Secondary School has opted to take subsidiary mathematics to help him solve mathematical problems in Physics and Chemistry. He says some students who have not studied computer or performed poorly at Mathematics at ordinary level might find some difficulties sitting for the new compulsory subjects.
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David Opio, a senior five student taking Physics, Economics and Mathematics at St Noa Mawagali has opted to take computer studies. He says the introduction of computer studies as a compulsory subject is the way to go other than mathematics which has been around but few people excell in it.
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Juliet Apio, director of studies at St James Senior secondary School says computer studies should have been made compulsory long ago. She says learning how to use a computer earlier in one’s education helps students to perform well at higher education and in future at work.
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This comes after the ministry of Education barred students going to senior five this year from offering four principle subjects, but made it compulsory to do computer studies, subsidiary mathematics in addition to General Paper.
Dr. Y K Nsubuga, Director Basic and Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education in a circular written to all secondary schools head teachers says all students offering mathematics are required to take computer studies at a subsidiary level. Students taking a combination with economics but without principle mathematics and all students offering science subjects without mathematics as a principle subject must take subsidiary mathematics.
The rest of the students outside the above categories will choose between computer studies and subsidiary mathematics.
