Makerere University lecturers have expressed their willingness to promote good moral behavior among students undertaking different courses within their faculty. The lecturers, who concluded a five-day training in the Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) curriculum in Jinja city on Saturday, state that there is moral decadence among learners.
Many are leading inappropriate lives, affecting both their relationships with parents and peers. The ELP curriculum encompasses tenets in good leadership, decent dressing, self-respect, respect for elders, financial literacy skills, and health wellness, among others. The ELP curriculum attracted 38 lecturers from Makerere University, all committing to incorporate its contents into their course units for the students.
Patrick Mulindwa, an assistant lecturer in the chemistry department, notes that morals among learners are decaying largely due to poor parenting and bad peer influence. This frustration affects academic excellence as students lack the discipline to abide by set instructions. With the skills acquired at the ELP engagement, Mulindwa states that they now can patiently instill good character among learners at the university.
Dr. Joelia Nassaka, a lecturer at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources, and Biosecurity asserts that most youths are facing behavioral challenges unknown to both their parents and tutors. Therefore, training teachers on moral impartation is crucial in building strong moral character among learners.
Nassaka adds that this training has also impacted the mental capabilities of lecturers to live morally upright lives, serving as an exemplary mirror for students to emulate throughout their study periods at the university.
Meanwhile, Prof. Winston Tumps, the principal of the College of Natural Sciences, representing the MUK Vice Chancellor, states that the university has implemented policies to safeguard both lecturers and students against sexual harassment and other vices, with heavy penalties like dismissal.
Tumps argues that the ELP training is timely, compelling lecturers to spearhead departmental campaigns to encourage their colleagues to lead morally upright lives. This will, in turn, instill the same values among learners.
Meanwhile, the Trade, Industry, and Cooperative Affairs State Minister, David Bahati, representing the First Lady, Janet Museveni, mentions that ELP will help both lecturers nurture learners into worthy leaders capable of transforming their spheres of influence from political, social, and economic aspects. Bahati adds that ELP training will be rolled out among lecturers and students in all tertiary institutions across the country, aiming to raise responsible citizens with the capacity to exhibit great character above selfish interests.
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