Makerere University School of Law has suspended its evening programme due to disagreements between teaching staff and the office of the Vice Chancellor.
In a January 23 memo to students, the office of the Principal of the School of Law said evening classes will be suspended until the university management addresses concerns regarding services offered by the staff.
“This is to inform you that the School Board meeting held on January 9, 2018 decided to suspend teaching on the evening programme until the university managements addresses concerns regarding services offered by the staff on that programme,” the memo read in part.
The school’s public relations officer, Ms Harriet Musinguzi said: “The reason is that there is a disagreement between teaching staff at school of law and the office of the Vice Chancellor. Further details can be got from Office of VC.”
However, sources told our reporters that lecturers’ absenteeism was one of the reasons for suspension. The source said a number of lecturers have been dodging evening class due to non-payment/ compensation for their time. Absenteeism was among the findings by the visitation committee which established that most of the part-time lectures were not attending classes regularly, something that had triggered strikes by students at the university.
Makerere University grappled with payment of allowances to academic staff in the past. This has seen a number of both staff and students strikes. The suspension of the evening programme at the School of Law comes barely a week after the commencement of the Second semester of the academic year 2017/2018.
