Thomas Ojok, the commissioner of human Resource management ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries has failed to convince the students of Bukalasa Agriculture College to seat examinations from Uganda Business and Technical Examination Board-UBTEB. Ojok rushed to Bukalasa Agriculture College on Thursday after students boycotted UBTEB exams on Wednesday.
They rejected the examinations saying Uganda Business and Technical Examination Board is an unknown to employers and local universities which would affect their future. They asked the college administration to suspend the examinations and instead administer internal examinations. But on Thursday, Ojok convened an emergency meeting at Bukalasa Agriculture College to convince the students to seat the UBTEB exams.
He explained to the students that the Business Technical Vocation Education Training Act 2008 mandates UBTEB to set all college examinations. Ojok says that Ministry of agriculture sought an interpretation from the solicitor general over the provision and advised the students to seat the examinations. But his explanation fell on deaf ears as the students accused the ministry of failing to consult all stakeholders before introducing the examinations.
The meeting ended without any meaningful way forward. Nicholas Kawuuta, the chairman Bukalasa College governing board told the students that they have no choice but to seat the exams unless the law is repealed.
//Cue in;’ the principal…………………………….’’//
Cue out…that up to you’’//
But the students insisted not to sit external examinations forcing the administrators to suspend it and seek the intervention of the minister of Agriculture Tress Buchanayandi. The students alleged that the law is applicable to only students that study business and technical courses but not agriculture.
// Cue in;’’these men…………………………………’’
Cue out;’’……………………………to do UBTEB’’//
Christine Anyait, the principal Bukalasa Agriculture College says that they have returned the rejected papers back to the UBTEB offices in Kampala . She says that they are also holding consultations on whether or not to close the college until the standoff is resolved. Anti-riot police is still maintaining tight security at the college.
