CHARACTER FORMATION.

THE CHALLENGE OF CONTEMPORARY EDUCATION: CHARACTER FORMATION. BY GAVAMUKULYA YAHAYA PRESIDENT MUBSA; 2010/2011   We Build for the Future, so goes the motto for Makerere University. Indeed, there is need for a strong future. The formal education system, now more than a hundred years in existence has been there, seen it all and done it all. Through the hill tops and valleys, ins and outs, the education system has sufficed it all. That's generally true on the surface. On close scrutinization, however, has the education system moved on, stagnated or found its way behind? I leave that to you. This is the contemporary education system, in the skeptic eye of a middle aged university student in the plight of reform.  From time immemorial institutions were started to prepare the young generation to continue with the cultural values and norms of that particular community. The elders used the fire place in ancient Africa to pass on the acquired skills and knowledge so that they were not buried with them. The whole homestead setting was an education institution where survival skills were imparted. It was hands on practical education and so real was it that its products were not looking for employment as they had the capacity to create them. They had the necessary character traits to preserve the core values of their society and the strength to isolate and exclude those who deviated from them. Today the 'high academic standards' syndrome has in many institutions affected negatively the core values of education. This competition for grades grossly compromises the aspect of character formation. It is okay in some institutions even to deviate from the acceptable standards in order to obtain the grades. The irony here is that the educators and some other stakeholders are involved in manufacturing this time bomb. As the true followers of Machiavelli, it does not matter how these grades are acquired, the end justifies the means. The products of these institutions are trained to have 'short cuts' to get there and in the end the whole country and indeed world pay the price. It is high time that all educators reassess and rediscover the fundamental purpose of education; that is to mold a product of a particular character and discipline. The products of an institution must be able to compete internationally with core competencies embodied in a particular character. The combination of competitiveness with character creates efficiency and productivity acceptable in any trend or discipline in society. A highly skilled product minus character is havoc. Many projects which would have saved our people have been suffocated or may be rudely strangled by people with skills minus character. Here the analogy must break down. We must strive to produce a generation with character traits of mutual respect, responsibility, trustworthiness, caring, honesty, compassion, empathy, commitment, perseverance, and integrity. It calls for calculated steps to train people and make them appreciate character formation. It requires collective responsibility from all the stakeholders – educators, students, and parents – and society should physically and spiritually support this noble cause for its own betterment. Society as a whole should realize that not just our livelihoods, but our souls are endangered unless we learn and acquire the necessary character traits. I have not written to give ready made solutions, but to set you thinking of the ways, if any, in which this character formation can be achieved. Failure to do so will mean to lose individuality and responsibility, to cease in a measure to be human. This is kind of an abrupt end, I know. Thank you.