Muni University is struggling to attract students for the Higher Education Access Certificate Programme.
Under this programme, students who have not attained satisfactory grades at Senior Six to enrol for a degree course, undertake a one-year certificate course. However, there is no opportunity for a retake in case a student fails to get at least a credit in the final assessment.
In the current 2021/2022 Academic year, Muni university advertised three courses, Higher Education Certificate in Humanities, Higher Education Certificate in Biological Sciences and Higher Education Certificate in Physical Sciences after they were accredited by the National Council for Higher Education-NCHE.
However, records at the office of the university academic registrar indicate that only ten students applied for the courses.
Felix Opio, the Muni University Academic Registrar attributes the low response to the late approval of the courses by NCHE. Opio however says that the university Senate has given them a green light to re-advertise the courses.
Dr Joyce Bukirwa, the Dean Faculty of Education observes that the course is a huge opportunity for all young people in West Nile. Bukirwa explains that the essence of the course is to provide entry opportunities for candidates who did not perform well at the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE).
Launched in 2016, the Higher Education Access Program is being implemented by Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) Uganda. Ken Rodgers, FAWE Uganda programme officer says they are committed to ensuring that the programme succeeds at Muni University.
In Uganda at least seven universities Busitema, Gulu, Mbarara University of Science and Technology-MUST, Lira, Muni, Mountain of the Moon in Fort Portal and Kabale are implementing the programme.
So far in Busitema University,60 students who enrolled in 2019 have graduated and enrolled in other university programmes.
David Kani Olema, the Dean Faculty of Science and Education at Busitema University attributes their success to extensive publicity of the course.
Currently, MUST has enrolled 84 students in its first cohort under this programme. Gulu university which is now in the second year of implementing the programme has 65 students enrolled.
The Higher Education Access Certificate is the fourth Higher Education access route approved by National Council for Higher Education, besides the direct entry, Diploma entry and Mature entry schemes.