Uganda education minister praises T&T technology school

Uganda’s Minister of Education and Sports Jessica Alupo has promised to fast-track bilateral relations between her country and T&T at a time when Uganda continues to develop its oil and gas industry. Alupo was speaking at a graduation ceremony held at the Kenson School of Production Technology (KSPT) held at San Fernando where seven Ugandans graduated with their Advanced Diploma in Oil and Gas Process Technology and Advanced Core Skills.

The training programme is internationally recognised by City and Guilds International started at KSTP in 2009. Alupo commended KSPT’s executive director Blair Ferguson and other school officials for taking care of the Ugandans. “There is no discrimination of any kind here against our people and you treat all of the students equally,” Alupo said. She added that the graduates had kept Uganda’s flag flying high. Saying that more students would be sent to KSPT to study, Alupo said the programme of training was relevant to Uganda’s educational thrust.

She said Uganda also wanted locals to manage its oil and gas industry, vowing to work closely with T&T. Meanwhile, Ferguson said the seven Ugandan pioneers who arrived in T&T ten months ago should be proud of their achievement.

He said KSPT was registered with the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago for the maximum period of three years and has also gained Centre Approval as a technical vocational centre with the National Training Agency. Ferguson noted that T&T had over a century of experience in oil and gas and would be pleased to work alongside with Uganda to provide training.

“Locally the discovery of 48 million barrels of relatively light crude by Petrotrin and Bayfield's 32 million barrels find off the east coast of Trinidad both in 2012, point to a long discussed view that oil and gas in Trinidad and Tobago will enter a new phase of growth,” he said. Ferguson added that in 2009 Uganda discovered oil with 2 billion barrels of proven reserves.

“Uganda is just one of several East African countries that have discovered oil and gas. Our enrolment reflects the positive developments in the oil and gas industry locally and internationally,” Ferguson added. He revealed that in 2012, KPST’s enrolment grew to 253 students pursuing each strand of the City and Guilds International Vocational Qualification in Oil and Gas as well as offshore production operator Training and the land-based production training.

He added that international enrolment stood at 31 students. After the ceremony, both Alupo and Ferguson signed a memorandum of understanding to have further educational training at the school.