By Ibrahim Ruhweza and Kellen Owente
Dressed in a blue Busoga College Mwiri T-shirt and a black cap over his head to protect him from Kampala’s scorching sun, Rayan Mulongo walked into the New Vision education Expo with lots of expectations.
An excited Mulongo said he saw the expo advert on Bukedde TV talking about opportunities focusing on skilling and connecting students to their dream careers.
Organised under the theme, Where education and the world of employment meet, the advert was enough to persuade Mulongo to attend the expo.
Mulongo was mainly interested in registering with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) to acquire a national identity card (ID) like other Ugandans.
But when Mulongo arrived at the expo, he was astounded by the hundreds of opportunities he could take advantage of to advance his career.
Mulongo is a Senior Three student at Busoga College Mwiri in Jinja city, and he wants to be a specialist in information technology. He is already motivated by some ideas he has acquired from the new curriculum that encourages practical learning.
“I saw the advert on Bukedde TV and I asked my parents to bring me. I thought I would register for the national ID only, but I have found multiple opportunities here at the expo, and I have already got some guidance on what I want to become in future,” he said.
Mulongo did not come alone; his sisters and parents accompanied him to witness the convictions Mulongo had tipped them about.
Mulongo’s father, Moses Mulongo Senior, said since reporting back to school is close, the expo had scholastic materials that were even sold at friendly prices.
As a parent, Mulongo Senior said he came to learn more about the event, but ended up purchasing items such as reading materials and Lato milk in bulk.
“Our son has got brilliant ideas from this expo. We shall support him to implement what he has learned or copied from here because currently, as parents, we need to not only accept children’s decisions, but also guide them accordingly so they do not mess up,” he stated.
Mulongo Senior believes that the education expo provided many opportunities not only for students, but also for parents who are eager to guide their children’s dreams in the right direction.
“The reason for coming here was the NIRA registration, but when we came, we found other things like the books that New Vision publishes, which contain the content of the new syllabus, and we are told this new curriculum needs a parent’s input, which I hope to learn and understand,” he said.
Mulongo’s sister, Hawa Mulongo, a student of nursing at Kabale Nursing School, found books on psychology that she said she has been looking for. Hawa hopes the books will help her understand how to manage patients with psychosocial needs.
Mulongo’s family was among the many students and parents, who embraced the education expo to meet their long-awaited opportunities and get career guidance.
Patience Logose, a Senior Six student from Mengo Secondary School and an entrepreneurship-oriented individual, met experts from the Directorate of Industrial Training, who tipped her on the uptake of vocational skills.
“My parents gave me capital and I started a coffee shop, which is now making profits. I needed extra advice because having a daily income is very important. I did not know how to manage customers, but now that I have the idea, I hope to put it to use,” she added.
Peace Busingye, the principal education officer in the department of guidance and counselling at the education ministry, said she acquired more knowledge that will enable her train several parents and teachers in the handling of their children.
“It will help me to educate my fellow parents on how to understand and listen to children, something I feel is missing among many of us who think that when we shout at them, they will understand and become better,” Busingye said.
The session on parenting, which was facilitated by Stephen Langa, the executive director Family Life Network, opened Busingye’s eyes to understand that raising children in this generation is different from the way they were raised in the past, as they are exposed to so many vices in society and new technology.
Busingye called for a unique approach towards handling children, citing having open communication and discovering their talents, among others.
