Union Rejects Govt Proposal to Exclude Varsity Lecturers from Teachers Bill

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Union Rejects Govt Proposal to Exclude Varsity Lecturers from Teachers Bill
Filbert Baguma, general secretary of UNATU

Filbert Baguma, general secretary of UNATU, emphasized that the bill should cover all teachers, from nursery to university level, to professionalize the teaching profession.

The Uganda National Teachers Union (UNATU) has rejected a proposal by the Ministry of Education to exclude university lecturers and tertiary institution tutors from the National Teachers Bill.

Filbert Baguma, general secretary of UNATU, emphasized that the bill should cover all teachers, from nursery to university level, to professionalize the teaching profession.

"The Bill is meant to professionalize all teachers," Baguma stated.

"This is an anomaly; if we have this Act as the National Teacher Bill, it must address all teachers in the country."

He highlighted the need to make the teaching profession attractive to encourage learners to opt for it. "Why would my child and your child get teaching as their first choice, when they know the terms and conditions teachers go through?" Baguma asked.

Isaac Etuka, representing Upper Madi County, shared similar concerns, pointing out that some districts, like Madi-Okollo, struggle to register students for A-Level examinations.

The requirement for degree-holding teachers could exacerbate teacher distribution issues in these areas."When you look at a district like Madi-Okollo, almost all candidates stop in Senior 4," Etuka said.

"So I think that provision where people have to do training within areas of jurisdiction will not help much because there is going to be a total problem of teacher distribution going by the recommendation that we have degree teachers."

The National Teachers Bill, 2024, aims to standardize and professionalize the teaching profession, addressing issues like teacher absenteeism, low qualifications, and unethical behavior.

However, educators argue that low remuneration in the sector doesn't justify the cost of attaining a Bachelor's degree in Uganda.

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