Christian Childcare Programme (CCP) Vocational Training Institute in Mbale has appealed to government to review the high cost of vocational practical examinations and phase out obsolete course units such as typewriting and shorthand, saying they undermine affordable and modern skills training.
The management of Christian Childcare Programme (CCP) Vocational Training Institute has urged the government to review assessment requirements for vocational institutions, citing the high cost and outdated nature of some course units.
Speaking during the graduation of 456 students who completed training in various disciplines, the institute’s director, Nathan Walyaula, said the mandatory practical examinations are financially straining for private institutions, particularly those outside Kampala.
“The requirement for practical exams is sometimes unrealistically expensive for us as a private institution,” Walyaula said.
“If it were not for support from our partners, we wouldn’t afford to sit these exams.”
He added that rural institutions face additional financial and logistical challenges compared to their urban counterparts.
“People in Kampala call us ‘upcountry,’ and you know what they mean. Resources here are limited. We need to make education accessible even for the needy,” he said.
Walyaula also called for the removal of obsolete course units such as typewriting and shorthand from the curriculum, arguing that they no longer serve practical value in the modern workplace.
“Factories that made typewriters in Europe closed more than 40 years ago. There is hardly any place in Africa where we can get these machines, and what remains is wearing out,” he noted.
A similar concern was raised over shorthand training, which the school described as outdated in the digital era where computers and modern software have replaced manual recording.
“For years, we have raised these issues, but no action has been taken,” Walyaula added.
“We hope the government listens this time and aligns vocational education with the realities of the modern job market.”
In response, Dr Abel Mukakanya Ddumba, Head of Research and Quality Assurance at the Uganda Vocational and Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB), acknowledged the concerns and said they are being addressed under the ongoing Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) curriculum review.
“The TVET Act 2025 empowers UVTAB to develop a new curriculum, and I believe it will address concerns about the high cost of examination materials without compromising quality,” Dr Mukakanya said.
“Technocrats will also advise the board on whether typewriting and shorthand remain relevant in today’s context.”
Despite the challenges, the graduation ceremony marked a major milestone for the 456 graduates who successfully completed their training in vocational and technical fields.
The institute praised their resilience and reiterated its commitment to providing practical, accessible, and modern skills training to support Uganda’s development goals.
