By Diphas Kiguli.
Makerere University dons from the College of Education and External Studies have completed a pilot study envisioned to scale down unemployment rate among youths.
The study dubbed ‘Student Training for Entrepreneurial Training’-STEP focuses at empowering learners especially from universal secondary schools to develop skills in business ground breaking.
The study is based on the findings from two schools of Nakanyonyi and Mintyana secondary schools in Mukono and Miyana districts respectively. The study was funded by Makerere Research and Innovation Fund-Mak-RIF.
In each school, ten groups comprising of five learners each were created and given Shillings 100, 000 and then given an opportunity to identify a business initiative worthy doing under that scale.
Dr. Rebecca Nambi, the lead researcher says several learners opted for businesses such as packing fruits, baking pancakes and chapattis, while others opted for entertainment.
Each group is given a period of thirteen weeks to return the initial capital. Dr. Nambi says all the groups have managed to return the initials besides businesses remain standing.
“Uganda has the second largest young population in the world and with the highest number of youth unemployment in Africa. Strategies must be laid to curb the growing rate of unemployment thus entrepreneurial practice is the way to go.” Dr. Nambi says.
According to Dr. Badru Musisi, the co-principal researcher says study focuses much on how to apply knowledge than talking about how to apply it.
He notes that the program differs from the old education curriculum which focus on creating job seekers instead creators.
“We have designed it to capacitate children from the less privileged backgrounds breakthrough economically so as to improve their lives. Schools interested in our package are free to contact us.” Dr. Musisi says.
Learners who participated in the study are grateful saying they have been able to earn early entrepreneurial exposure.
Leticia Linda Nankusu, a student from Mityana Senior Secondary School reveals encountering challenges such as theft of their cash and materials, clashes between STEP activities and school study program but nonetheless, they have learned how to manage risks besides developing surviving skills.
“It is not easy to juggle selling of products at the same time attend to classes. Business creates hatred and competition. In our case, we have been competing with the school canteens owned by our teachers, lack of proper storage of materials like charcoal stoves due to fear of fire outbreak among other challenges.” She notes.
She further notes that the program boosts confidence and creativity among learners, proper business training which involves proper book keeping.
Another student Winnie Nyiralukyaba from Nakanyonyi Secondary school advises fellow learners to embrace the STEP project to be able discover their capabilities.
She notes that it is also a good initiative for schools struggling to adopt the new education curriculum amalgamated with entrepreneurial skills.
English 