By: Maanige Wenceslas, Director of Boona FM 91.8 and Educationist.

Uganda, like many African countries, faces a growing challenge of youth unemployment. One of the key contributors to this crisis is the education system, coupled with societal expectations that prioritize university degrees over practical skills. Many parents assume that a university degree guarantees a white-collar job in a smart office. However, the reality paints a different picture—thousands of graduates, armed with theoretical knowledge, roam the streets seeking elusive jobs.

As we anticipate the release of national examination results at various levels, parents and guardians must make informed decisions about their children’s future education paths. This is a call to action: we must rethink our approach to education and embrace skill-based training to empower our youth to become job creators rather than job seekers.

Let Us Critically Understand the Real Problem
The traditional focus on theoretical courses has created a mismatch between what the education system offers and the demands of the job market. Parents often discourage their children from pursuing “dirty” or manual courses such as engineering, agriculture, tailoring, carpentry, and nutrition, branding them as inferior. Yet, these are the very skills that equip young people to thrive in today’s economy.

On the other hand, courses like business administration or mass communication, though valuable, have been oversubscribed, saturating the job market. The result is a generation of educated but unemployed youth, frustrated and unable to apply their knowledge practically.

What Parents Should Consider When Guiding Their Children

1. Prioritize Skills Over Prestige
The global economy is shifting towards practical and technical skills. Courses in carpentry, tailoring, plumbing, food processing, electronics, and agriculture are in high demand. These professions not only provide immediate income but also allow young people to start their businesses, fostering independence.

Encourage your child to pursue a course that equips them with hands-on skills, even if it does not come with the traditional prestige of a university degree. Remember, success is not defined by a title but by the ability to create value and earn a sustainable livelihood.

2. Consider Market Demand
Before choosing a course, assess its relevance to the job market. Uganda has abundant opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing, and the service sector. For instance:

  • Agriculture: Uganda’s economy relies heavily on agriculture, yet the sector faces a shortage of skilled professionals. Courses in animal husbandry, crop production, and agribusiness prepare students to tap into this lucrative sector.
  • Vocational Trades: Skills like welding, electrical installation, and carpentry are always in demand, allowing individuals to set up their workshops.
  • Food and Nutrition: As urbanization grows, so does the demand for quality food processing and catering services.

3. Support Vocational Training
Encourage your child to enroll in vocational institutions. Unlike universities that often emphasize theory, vocational schools provide hands-on training tailored to industry needs. Skills acquired in these institutions are practical and can be immediately applied to real-world problems.

4. Encourage Entrepreneurship (Develop in Them a Business Mind)
Teach your child to view education as a tool for entrepreneurship, not just employment. For instance, a young graduate trained in tailoring can start a small business making school uniforms or bridal gowns. Similarly, a skilled carpenter can build furniture for schools and homes. This mindset shifts the focus from seeking jobs to creating them.

5. Embrace the New World of Technology
Technology is rapidly transforming the job market. Courses like software development, digital marketing, and graphic design equip young people with skills to work remotely or create digital solutions. Parents should encourage their children to explore these opportunities, even if it means learning through online platforms.

6. Value Continuous Learning
The job market is dynamic, and skills that are relevant today may become obsolete tomorrow. Encourage your children to adopt a mindset of lifelong learning. They should be open to upgrading their skills and learning new technologies to remain competitive.

What Should a Parent Do?
It is time to change the mindset that views manual and vocational work as inferior. Celebrate success stories of individuals thriving in skill-based careers. As a parent, be open-minded and flexible when guiding your child. Recognize their strengths and interests, and support them in choosing a path where they can excel.

At the age of 45 now, I have learned that education is not a one-size-fits-all journey. The future of Uganda depends on a skilled workforce that can drive economic growth and innovation. Parents can empower their children to be resilient, self-reliant, and adaptable in a competitive world by prioritizing skilling and vocational training.

As we await examination results, particularly P.L.E. today, let this be a moment of reflection. Let us guide our children not toward titles and theoretical knowledge but toward practical skills, innovation, and a sustainable future.

The time for change is now.

Maanige Wenceslas
Managing Director Boona FM 91.8 & a proud teacher
Rukungiri Municipality
+256787393921

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1 Comment

  • John Mary

    23/01/2025

    Thank you, Tr Maanige for this well thought contribution to the parents and the yet to-be parents.
    In Africa, we want our children to have degrees because they are the ones to earn them jobs, usually white collar ones. These courses are very expensive and enrolment in university for them is quite high. This makes the market limited.
    Let’s think wider.
    Tech is on the way to go and so we have to embrace and move with the trend.

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