Sylvia K
The Uganda Cooperative Alliance UCA, has asked the government to introduce cooperative education in schools.
The requested was submitted by the Secretary-General of UCA, Ivan Asiimwe, during a capacity and skills enhancement event for commercial officers meant for three days.
He emphasized the importance of starting cooperative education from primary school to higher institutions with an aim of helping students gain knowledge to combat poverty and unemployment after they finish school.
According to Asiimwe, the current education system in Uganda focuses on history that may not benefit students in the future. He pointed out a significant gap where commercial officers, accountants, and auditors lack clearknowledge about cooperatives.
Barnabas Tinkasimire, a Member of Parliament for Buyaga West, has pledged to push for the inclusion of cooperative education in all schools through policy statements in the Ministry of Education.
He highlighted the historical formation of cooperatives in Uganda, expressing concern that political influences led to the collapse of many cooperatives, leaving only the wealthy with access to markets.
Tinkasimire, also mentioned that Parliament plans to increase funding for commercial officers to mobilize communities and encourage them to join cooperatives.
The State Minister for Cooperatives, Fredrick Gobi, officially opened the training session and urged cooperatives to focus on practical implementation rather than just providing accountability.
He challenged the trained commercial officers to apply their knowledge and announced a financial support of 1.5 million Ugandan Shillings for each of them to start their initiatives.
