Police has foiled a fresh strike by students of Bukalasa Agriculture College in Wobulenzi over a new set of external examinations. Students went up in arms this morning after the college administration delivered examinations set by Uganda Business Technical Examination Board instead of the internal examinations. They refused to enter their classrooms and pinned placards all over the college campus saying that Uganda Business Technical Examinations are not recognized by universities when they go for upgrading.
Some of the students who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity said that the college has been awarding students with diploma transcripts bearing that name of with Bukalasa Agriculture College but they were shocked to see exams from an external body yet they were not consulted. They claim that when they petitioned the ministry of agriculture, animal industry and fisheries, the ministry denied knowledge of the Uganda Business Technical Examination Board exams.
According to students, once they are awarded transcripts from the little known Uganda Business Technical Examination Board exams they may find it hard to secure jobs.
They vowed not to sit the exams forcing anti riot police to seal off the college to prevent the students from turning violent. Mario Ociti, the commandant anti riot police told URN that they deployed after receiving information that some students were planning to disrupt examinations. Ociti says that the students are supposed to sit the exams because they are provided for under the Business Technical Vocation Education Trianing Act 2008. A June 6, 2012 letter signed by E. Namagembe on behalf of solicitor general addressed to the college shows that all fisheries, forestry and agriculture institutions are supposed to sit exams under the Uganda Business Technical Examination Board.
By time of filling the story the principal of the college Christine Anyait was still held up in another crisis meeting to resolve the strike. Last week, students of the same college besieged their principal demanding over the same exams forcing police to intervene and restore order.
