National Teachers’ Bill proposes strict measures for teacher professionalization

The Ministry of Education and Sports has requested Parliament to grant it exclusive rights to place all student teachers in Uganda for their internships, despite significant challenges faced by a similar policy in the health sector.

This proposal is outlined in the Third Schedule of the National Teachers’ Bill 2024, which was tabled on August 6, 2024, by John Muyingo, the Minister of State for Higher Education.

According to clause 3(2) of the Third Schedule, “The Ministry shall be responsible for the placement and posting of persons undertaking the internship programme,” and clause 5(2) stipulates, “A person who intends to undertake an internship shall apply to the Ministry for placement.”

This proposal emerges amidst the Ministry of Health’s struggle to deploy 1,271 medical interns due to a shortfall of UGX 18 billion needed to recruit all interns. This amount does not cover the additional cost of hiring specialists to supervise the medical interns.

The Ministry of Education intends for teacher internship training to last 12 months, conducted only in accredited institutions where headteachers will supervise the intern teachers through appointed supervisors.

Why the National Teachers’ Bill?

The Ministry defended the National Teachers’ Bill by highlighting the absence of a framework for professionalizing and standardizing the teaching profession through effective internship, registration, licensing, and accreditation.

“Over the years, there have been issues of teacher absenteeism, ineffective teaching, low qualifications, and lack of standards, weak institutional leadership, unethical behavior, and limited professional development for teachers. Currently, there is no effective legal framework to regulate teachers, including internship management, registration, licensing, professional conduct, continuous professional development, and discipline,” the Bill states.

The Bill aims to establish a professional body responsible for regulating the teaching profession by consolidating registration and licensing processes, providing for discipline and professional conduct, and ensuring continuous professional development.

Key Provisions in the National Teachers’ Bill

The Bill seeks powers to administer competence tests for anyone seeking to register as a teacher in Uganda. Clause 27(3) proposes that “The person applying to be registered as a teacher may undertake a competence test to determine suitability for registration.” The tests may be conducted by the Council or authorized institutions.

Clause 28(1)(a) proposes limiting teaching practice in educational institutions to degree holders, stating, “A person is eligible to be registered as a teacher if he or she possesses a degree in education and has undertaken an internship programme in accordance with the prescribed teacher internship programme.”

This requirement has drawn scrutiny from educationists who argue that low remuneration in the sector does not justify the cost of attaining a Bachelor’s degree in Uganda.

The Bill also proposes a four-year jail sentence for anyone teaching without a degree or teaching license, as outlined in clause 28(3): “A person who contravenes this section commits an offence and is liable, on conviction, to a fine not exceeding one hundred currency points (UGX 2 million) or imprisonment for up to four years, or both.”

The Bill opens teaching practice to non-Ugandans under clause 35, provided they show proof of registration or recognition as a teacher in their country, have taught for the past three years, possess a work permit, a certificate of good conduct from Interpol, and have their academic qualifications equated by the National Council for Higher Education.

Clause 38 details guidelines for the renewal of practicing licenses, requiring teachers to apply for renewal within two months before the expiry of their current license.

The Bill also seeks to bar any training institution from employing unqualified persons to teach a degree in education. Clause 43(2) states, “No training institution shall employ a person to teach a degree in education unless the person possesses the relevant qualifications.” Violations could result in fines of up to UGX 14 million for institutions and UGX 5 million or two years imprisonment for individuals.

Clause 54(2) empowers the National Teachers Council to de-register teachers for reasons including voluntary removal, professional misconduct, conviction of a capital offence, or death.

Deputy Speaker Thomas Tayebwa referred the National Teachers’ Bill to the Parliamentary Education Committee for scrutiny, urging wide consultations among all stakeholders before reporting back to Parliament within 45 days.