A telecommunications and engineering graduate says that students are given one official certificate and one paper copy, and then have to have these certificates validated with signatures and stamps from various officials. The process can cost as much as $300 and take six months. “When you graduate you’re given a certificate, but if there is any mistake on it, or if you lose it, it’s on you,” says Justice. “Termites can even eat your certificates, so you have to keep them safe. Some of us travel from the village where we live, and there is always the worry our certificates may not be there when we get back.”
Lost or stolen certificates can only be replaced after a police investigation and at the cost of $70 at least per certificate. It’s a significant burden in a country where the average annual salary is about $18,000 per year, and where youth unemployment is one of the highest in Africa. Graduates in the U.S. could simply request a copy of their certificate — and in any case, are rarely even asked for paper proof of their qualifications — yet graduates in many countries like Uganda can lose money and miss work opportunities if their documentation is lost, damaged, or stolen.
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