KABAROLE – The Executive Secretary, Uganda Business Technical Examinations Board [UBTEB], Onesmus Oyesigye has appealed to girls to pursue engineering courses which has for many years registered more boys than girls.
“Gone are the days when they used to say engineering courses are for boys. Actually, girls do better than boys in these courses. I therefore encourage girls to pursue science courses like mechanical engineering, building and construction among others” Oyesigye said.
He made this remark while monitoring and assessing the ongoing examinations at Uganda Technical College Kichwamba in Kabarole district.
Oyesigye cited an example of an international certificate specifically in Oil and Gas that very few girls tend to pursue.
“When it comes to mass employment in Hoima, our sisters will miss out because very few will benefit. I appeal to parents to encourage their girls to do this course that will enable them to get employment anywhere in the world” he said.
He disclosed that in the near future, these institutions will be open to everyone whether you went to school or not.
“In the near future, we shall have fully fledged curriculum for all Ugandans to benefit. We shall have short courses like electrical installation, painting, solar among others. It will be open to everyone to come and do any skilling course of their choice” he said.
The deputy principle academic registrar at Kichwamba technical college, Joseph Nyakoojo said, the college offers only skills training and in the near future; they will have skills with production because they have the equipment.
“The skills we give to the oil and gas students can help them even when they are not working with oil companies” Nyakoojo said.
However, Nyakoojo noted that the overall enrolment of female students at the college is still very low hence the need for more female students.
He said, the enrolment at the college stands at 572 males and 145 females.
UBTEB is conducting exams in 223 assessment centers with 15809 students and 63 special needs students sitting for the exams.
The exams begun on 24th January and will end on 7th Feb.
Background
Uganda Technical College Kichwamba is a government tertiary institution of higher learning offering both certificates and diploma courses in various engineering courses.
In 2020, government approved Petroleum institute Kigumba in Hoima and Uganda Technical College Kichwamba to provide first rate training in the critical oil and gas sector.
Kigumba now offers five courses while Kichwamba has four.
Courses at Kigumba include upstream petroleum study, downstream petroleum operation, electrical installation, mechanical installation and instrumentation while Kichwamba has electrical installation, mechanical installation, welding metal fabrication and carpentry and joinery.
Other technical colleges in Uganda include Uganda Technical College Bushenyi, Ntinda vocational training institute, Bukalasa Agricultural training institute, Uganda technical college Elgon among others.
