Open teacher training to all institutions, government urged

Educationists have called on the government to reconsider plans to make the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) the sole provider of teacher education in the country, warning that no single institution possesses the capacity to meet the national demand for qualified educators.

Speaking on the sidelines of the seventh graduation ceremony of the Luigi Giussani Institute of Higher Education (LGIHE) in Kampala last week, LGIHE Principal Ms Stella Rose Akongo argued that producing the calibre and volume of teachers Uganda needs requires collaborative efforts from all accredited training institutions.
Her remarks follow proposals under the National Teacher Policy 2019 to give UNITE exclusive mandate over initial teacher education and Continuous Professional Development (CPD) in a bid to harmonise teacher training nationwide.

Ms Akongo urged the Ministry of Education and Sports to maintain an open field governed by strict regulatory oversight rather than restricting teacher training to a single entity.
"Luigi alone cannot train all the teachers that Uganda needs, nor can Makerere alone train all the teachers the nation requires," Ms Akongo said. "I believe teacher training should be an open call to the entire nation and institutions that are training teachers."

She questioned whether UNITE's five campuses—located in Kabale, Kaliro, Mubende, Arua (Muni), and Gulu (Unyama)—could realistically train the hundreds of thousands of teachers needed by the school system.
Instead of centralization, Ms Akongo recommended that the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) enforce strong quality control measures and minimum standards across all training centers to ensure uniformity and excellence.

The debate stems from reforms embedded in the National Teacher Policy 2019, which are currently being integrated into the draft National Higher Education Policy. Ministry of Education Spokesperson Dr Dennis Mugimba explained that the shift in mandate away from public and private universities aims to correct fragmented training methods that currently impact classroom delivery.
"The challenge in teacher education right now is that all trainers train teachers differently," Dr Mugimba said, citing guidance from First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports Ms Janet Museveni. "Makerere, Kyambogo, and private universities do what they want, although all programmes are accredited by the National Council for Higher Education."

Dr Mugimba noted that once Cabinet approves the Higher Education Policy, the Ministry will move to amend the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act to solidify UNITE's sole mandate over teacher education. Established through Statutory Instrument No. 53 of 2024, UNITE operates from its headquarters at the former Shimoni Core Primary Teachers’ College in Kira Municipality.

However, labor unions have also raised concerns over the proposed monopoly. Mr Aron Mugaiga, Secretary General of the Uganda Professional Teachers Union (UPSTU), pointed out that over 15,000 student teachers are currently enrolled in various tertiary institutions across the country. He questioned whether UNITE has the physical and operational capacity to absorb those students alongside the teaching staff currently employed in existing university education departments.

"Normally, competition breeds quality," Mr Mugaiga said, adding that the government should avoid rushing the transition. He noted that the recent closure of core Primary Teachers' Colleges (PTCs) has already created shortages in the teaching force while new schools continue to open.

The debate came as 115 graduates were awarded certificates, diplomas, and degrees in various education disciplines at LGIHE. The cohort included five certificate recipients in Child Care, 26 in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), 17 diploma recipients in ECCE, 42 diploma recipients in Primary Education, and 25 degree graduates across Pre-Primary and Primary Education disciplines.
Representing the Ministry of Education at the event, Senior Education Officer Mr Cleophas Mugyenyi encouraged the new graduates to adapt to ongoing reforms, including the implementation of the Competence-Based Curriculum and the integration of artificial intelligence in classrooms.

"Artificial intelligence and digital technologies are shaping how knowledge is accessed, but technology cannot replace a teacher's responsibility to know the learner, nurture curiosity, and exercise professional judgment," Mr Mugyenyi said. "The teacher of the future must increasingly be a designer of learning, a facilitator of inquiry, and a mentor."

Outgoing LGIHE Governing Board Chairperson Mr Michael Kabanda Nganda urged the graduates to approach teaching with humility, describing it as a dynamic two-way exchange. Nakawa Division Mayor Mr Ali Bukeni also called on the graduands to uphold integrity and leverage their qualifications to serve their communities.