The Parliamentary Committee on Education and Sports has recommended that teachers seeking registration should possess a degree in education or another relevant degree accompanied by a postgraduate diploma in education for those teaching at pre-primary, primary, and secondary levels.The recommendation is contained in the committee report on the National Teachers Bill, 2023, which was presented to Parliament by the committee chairperson, Hon. James Kubeketerya, during a plenary sitting on Tuesday, 26 November 2024.The committee said introducing higher academic qualifications for teachers would help professionalise and standardise the teaching sector while improving the quality of education delivery across the country.
According to the report, the proposed law seeks to establish the National Teachers Council (NTC) as a corporate body responsible for regulating the teaching profession. However, the committee called for changes in its composition to ensure greater representation of practising teachers.Hon. Kubeketerya noted that most members proposed for the council were not actively engaged in teaching, arguing that educators currently working in schools should have a stronger voice in decisions affecting the profession.The committee also recommended stronger cooperation between the National Teachers Council and the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC), saying that collaboration with key education agencies would improve teacher training, accreditation, and continuous professional development programmes.The proposed one-year teacher internship programme was rejected by the committee, which argued that graduates already undergo school practice during their training and should not be subjected to an additional lengthy period before beginning their careers.
However, Hon. Joseph Ssewungu (NUP, Kalungu West County) presented a minority report opposing the mandatory degree requirement, saying government should instead support teachers to upgrade gradually and meet the new standards without being forced out of the profession.Minister of State for Education and Sports (Higher Education), Hon. Chrysostom Muyingo, said the Bill is aimed at addressing challenges such as teacher absenteeism, low qualifications, poor regulation, and lack of professional standards in the education sector. Speaker Anita Among later deferred debate on the Bill to Wednesday, 27 November 2024.
