(This article was first published on January 28, 2023)
By Ibrahim Ruhweza
On Saturday, people streamed into the Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology in Nakawa for the second day of the first ever New Vision Education Expo.
Some were eager to attend the trainings on the day’s schedule – first on parenting and then on career guidance and counselling.
Stephen Langa (pictured below), a vastly-experienced counsellor, facilitated the training on parenting, drawing a keen audience – both young and old.
Vision Group’s chief executive officer Don Wanyama (pictured below) was part of this audience.
Some experts say Uganda is in need of parenting skills because social media has had negative influences on children’s morals and values. Some say platforms such as TikTok, WhatsApp, Twitter and Instagram are dissuading many youths from taking the right path.
Urging participants to attend the trainings earlier on Saturday, New Vision education editor Pascal Kwesiga talked of the need to protect especially young children.
“This session is important because parents and teachers are going to learn a lot from Stephen Langa from Family Life Network, who has been an expert in this field for many years, and we expect him to share tips on parenting,” he said.
Kwesiga recognises that modern parenting is stressful and the next generation needs to be guided.
“Children are always online, and we need to learn how to protect and guide them on the right path, just like it was done in the past.”
Musa Kasozi, a career developer, is attending the expo. He said he came for the career guidance session because he was looking for a job and wanted to advance his career.
“It is important because it supports people in making the right career decision,” he said.
“Students are taking courses because they were told to do so. This could be the reason behind the increase in unemployment because graduates are not implementing what they were taught because they do not like it.”
David Musiime, a parent who works with Uganda Railways Corporation, described good parenting as a direction most parents would want to take in raising their children.
Musiime explained that bringing up a child is a huge responsibility, more of an investment in their future.
“Not only must we fund their education, we need to also to help them make the right career choice and for that, we ourselves need training,” he said.
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