TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF UGANDA

Irene Kwagume, a Ugandan educator who assisted with the training for volunteers last week, remarked that Americans need to know more about Africa.  In an attempt to present some background information about Uganda where I am working for three months, I have prepared the following multiple choice quiz.  Please give it your best shot and then look at the answers below.  Good luck!

1)      Uganda is located in: a) west Africa, b) south Africa, c) east Africa, d) north Africa.

2)      Uganda achieved its independence from Great Britain on: a) October 9, 1942, b) October 9, 1962, c) October 9, 1982, d) October 9, 2002.

3)      The president of Uganda is: a) Idi Amin b) Yoweri Museveni, c) Mohammar Khadaffi, d) Mikail Gorbachev.

4)      The following countries border Uganda: a) Zimbabwe, Zaire, Botswana; b) Libya, Morocco, Egypt; c) South Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya; d) Burundi, Malawi, Angola

5)      The main exports of Uganda are: a) Rice, maize, tobacco; b) iron ore, teak, copper ore; c) cane sugar, sugar, tobacco; d) coffee, cotton, tea.

6)      Uganda is nearest the a) Indian Ocean, b) Atlantic Ocean, c) Pacific Ocean, d) North Sea

7)      The capital of Uganda is a) Kampala, b) Nairobi, c) Johannesburg, d) Cairo

8)      The population of Uganda is approximately a) 3.5 million, b) 10 million, c) 34 Million, d) 75 Million.

9)      Uganda’s land area is approximately the same as the U.S state of: a) Rhode Island, b) Maine, c) Oregon, d) Texas.

10)   The official language of Uganda is: a) Swahili, b) Bantu, c) English, d) French.

11)   The major religions of Uganda (1% or more of the population)  are: a) Roman Catholic, Church of Uganda (Anglican); b) Muslim, Pentecostal; c) Seventh Day Adventist, traditional; d) a, b, and c.

12)   In 2005 a major discovery of what resource was made in Uganda: a) copper, b) iron, c) petroleum, d) coal.

13)   The picture in this post from Uganda shows: a) ant hill, b) termite hill, c) natural hill, d) African mountain.

Answers: 1) c; 2) b; 3) b; 4) c; 5) d; 6) a; 7) a; 8) c; 9) c; 10) c; 11) d; 12) c; 13) b.

WHAT IS THIS (SEE QUIZ QUESTION 13?)

MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC HIGHER ED - TEN YEAR LOOK BACK

The trend in Massachusetts public higher education over the last ten years is a bleak picture with falling state support, but higher enrollment, increased number of graduates and rising student charges.  Here  are the numbers:

State Appropriations for community colleges and state universities - DOWN 11%

Student Charges at State Universities UP 168%

Student Charges at Community Colleges UP 86%

Numbers of graduates at State Universities UP 12% 

Number of graduates at Community Colleges UP up 21% 

These long-term developments strike at the core of public higher education as costs are shifted increasingly to students.  What would Horace Mann think of Massachusetts today?

Horace Mann of Masschusetts, one of giants of public education in the 19th Century

PUBLIC HIGHER ED GOES TO THE MASS. STATE HOUSE

STCC Students in front of the State House on lobby day, March 8, 2012.

Public College students waiting to enter State House, March 12, 2012.

Students overflowing the State House auditorium at the start of lobby day, March 8, 2012.  All photos by Bill Brooks.

MISSION TO DALLAS

THE STCC TEAM IN DALLAS AT THE ACHIEVING THE DREAM STRATEGY INSTITUTE, MARCH 1, 2012. From left to right:  Matt Gravel, Arlene Rodriguez, Jess Hill, Hugette Williams, Lauren Brewer, Donna Bedinelli, Theresa Shea, Kamari Collins, Vanessa Hill, Linda Meccouri, Bob Dickerman, Diane Snyder, Nicole Bedinelli

TEN YEAR LOOK BACK ON MASS. PUBLIC COLLEGES

The last decade has been one of change and challenge for the public higher education institutions in Massachusetts.  While enrollment and graduation numbers are up, so are salaries, and other expenses to run these institutions.  Meanwhile state support is down, not just relative to inflation but absolutely as well, and, as a result, student charges are up dramatically.

Comparing 2002 to 2012, here are the numbers:

Enrollment is up 25% in community colleges, 17% at the state universities.

Number of students receiving degrees and certificates is up 21% at the community colleges, 12% at the state universities.

Faculty salaries are up 26% at the community colleges; I need to verify the state university change.

State support is down 11%. 

Student charges have increased 86% at the community colleges, 168% at the state universities.

The big eye-opener is the decrease in state support and the large increases in student charges.  These two changes are clearly related.  If the state had kept up with wages increases, state support would have gone up by 26%, a 37% swing from what actually happened.  Meanwhile student charges have risen to make up for the decrease in state funding. 

These numbers should set off a warning signal among the public, especially those with young children – the next generation of college students.  The lesson of this ten year look back: in Massachusetts, public higher education will require public commitment if it is to remain in the grasp of those of moderate means.

YEAR IN REVIEW PHOTOGRAPHS

The STCC year in review and holiday greeting has just become available.  To view it click Year in Photos and enjoy the show.


You'll see pictures of our students and campus events throughout 2011.  And let me wish everyone who visits this blog, a happy holiday and better 2012.

Garvey  Hall on the campus of Springfield Technical Community
Collge.Add caption

Public Colleges Gain Favor in Parent Survey

Katrina Martynyuk filling out her free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) in the STCC financial aid office while Natalya Petrik looks on.

Not surprisingly in an annual survey of Massachusetts parents almost half indicated that they want their child to attend a public university or college – up from 30% in the 2007 survey.  The Fidelity Investment and Massachusetts Educational Finance Authority annual poll reflects the post great recession reality of higher education:  families have less money while the cost of higher education continues to increase. (More information from the survey is available through the August 23, 2011 Boston Globe at the link parent survey .)

In this environment, public colleges for most American families represent the affordable option to high tuition and high post-college debt.  Yet states have been reducing support for their public college systems and possible 

federal cut-backs in financial aid may make public higher education out of the reach of many.

This period of high unemployment, is an ideal time to encourage further education and preparation for skilled jobs.  Closing the doors of public higher education would be a  shortsighted policy that will negatively affect individuals and our common economic future.