President Yoweri Museveni has lashed out at politicians who politicise education projects, urging them to instead find ways of encouraging people in their areas to embrace such projects for the good of their communities.
The president was speaking at the launch of the Albertine Region Sustainable Development Project bursary scheme, an intervention under the ministry of education and sports in which free training associated with the oil and gas industry will be provided to approximately 600 students from the Albertine region.
“People of Bunyoro should encourage the youth to join the program. Do not be misled by people who are singing about oil, because oil is finite. Once the youth have acquired these skills, they remain with that knowledge even after the oil is finished and can be employed else where,” Museveni said
The program will be offering hands-on skills in civil/structural engineering, hospitality, catering among others.
“With these skills, certification and accreditation, our Children will get capability to serve in the oil and gas industry in the country, which we estimate will create 160,000 direct and indirect jobs or serve in different spheres elsewhere in the world,” Museveni said.
However, he advised that everyone cannot be absorbed in the oil and gas industry, and appealed to the rest to engage in commercial agriculture, the services sector, manufacturing or ICT among others.
Museveni also advised students and parents against pursuing irrelevant University courses because they are responsible for unemployment rates as they not not generate job creators.
“Courses should be selected carefully and deliberately, Courses like Bachelor of women studies, how do they help? This is not a fashion; it is a necessity for our children to be able to survive.”
