Gov’t justifies why teachers will study for 4 years before graduation

BY DAMALI MUKHAYE

The Ministry of Education has justified why all students who are going to be admitted into the teaching profession effective 2021/22 academic year will now study for four years.

This is in fulfillment of part of the teacher policy that the cabinet approved in 2019 in a bid to standardize the teaching profession through continuous development and training.

The National Teacher’s colleges (NTCs) that have been training secondary school teachers at diploma level (Grade V) and Primary Teacher’s Colleges (PTCs) that have been handling primary teachers at certificate level (Grade 3) PTCs are going to be affiliated to the Uganda National Institute of Teacher Education (UNITE) and turned into degree-awarding institutions.

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, Dr. Denis Mugimba said that going forward, all teacher trainees will be subjected to a full year of internship after completing their three years of undergraduate training at Universities or technical colleges.

Dr Mugimba said that these will be supervised by professionals from the Uganda National Teachers Council (UNTC) and if they exhibit good performance during their one year of internship, they will be awarded practicing licenses by the Council before being allowed to teach learners.

Those who will fail the one-year internship will not be given a practicing license saying this is intended to ensure that only professionals become teachers.

Written by Noelyn Nassuuna