By George Murumba

9^th Jan 2012:

St Mary's Kitende logo

St Mary’s College Kitende has been variously accused of fraudulently fiddling with their students’ University admission application forms in order to get a huge number of it’s “A” Level students admitted for University courses under the much sought after government sponsorship programme.

According to the allegation made by our source, a parent whose son sat for Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education [UACE] in the last academic year, Kitende college authorities only allowed their “A” Level students to make their University course choices on photocopies of the admission application forms.

The school then retained the right to unilaterally change their students’ course choices on the final original application forms, a fact that our source claims, points to possible corruption by Kitende college authorities to ensure that an overwhelming majority of students get admitted to study for less desirable University courses under the government sponsorship programme.

“…I find it very sad.  Corruption is killing everything in this country.  Not even education is spared.  Why should any school deny us parents who pay million of shillings every term the right to help our children choose good University courses that will get them jobs in future?  Someone should investigate this.  We cannot go on like this.” our source said.

Speaking hypothetically, our source said if an “A” Level student at Kitende college chose Medicine as a first choice University course, the college authorities could, basing on the student’s past academic performance, decide to substitute Medicine for Hospitality Management or Music Dance and Drama which have a lower points threshold for admission under the government sponsorship programme.

In so doing, our source alleges, St Mary’s College Kitende and other elite secondary schools like it end up getting positive, widespread, but “totally unwarranted publicity” in the media which in turn creates the false perception among parents that such expensive private schools are the most desirable in the country.

“…I may be wrong but I am convinced that is how Kitende has been getting positive but totally unwarranted publicity.  That wonderful publicity certainly made me choose to pay millions at Kitende in the hope that my son will get good grades to go to University on government.  If it can be proved, then I think Kitende will not only have cheated me but also cheated all Ugandan taxpayers whose money funds the government sponsorship programme.” our source said.

Over the last few years, St Mary’s College Kitende has been flying at the very top of the list of Uganda’s best performing secondary schools.  However, if these allegations are proved to be true, then it will change the way the general public views high performing elite schools in the country like St Mary’s College Kitende.  It may also have adverse affects on the number of foreign students coming to study in Uganda, a fact which could impact badly on the country’s economic performance.

Our efforts to get a written reaction from St Mary’s College Kitende through their email info@stmaryskitende.net have been futile.  END:  Please login to www.ugandacorrespondent.com every Monday to read our top stories and anytime mid-week for our news updates.