Makerere Starts New Course for Laboratory Assistants

Makerere Starts Laboratory Assistants

Makerere University College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-security has introduced a short school laboratory technician's course.

The programme is a government initiative started as a result of the shortage of school laboratory technicians in secondary schools. It is also meant to help the learner have an input in the training.

According to the principal of the college, Prof. John David Kabasa, the course, Bachelor on Laboratory Science Education and Industry, will enable students carry out internship programmes as part of the training while they play the role of school lab technicians to the attachment schools.

Kabasa said the course comes in to fill the gap created after the Government made science subjects compulsory in all secondary schools, with a challenge of a few well-trained school laboratory technicians in the country.

According to Kabasa, the course is one of the 11 skill-enhancing programmes to be offered by Africa Institute for Strategic Service and development (AFRISA), under COVAB.

Kabasa explained that the programmes were targeting youth graduates, school leavers, and farmers to be trained in their professional career to make production and enterprise development from a business perspective.

He said the programmes are in collaboration with the government through the education ministry and NAADS, where it will train farmers in value and business chain advancement in agriculture at all levels.