Published on 06/08/2024
The government introduced the National Teachers’ Bill, 2024 aiming to regulate the teaching profession. The bill proposes the creation of a National Teacher’s Council, responsible for registration, licensing and disciplinary actions for teachers.
During plenary sitting on Tuesday, 06 August 2024, Minister of State for Higher Education, John Chrysostom Muyingo presented the bill and its financial implications during a parliamentary session. This move marks a significant step towards enhancing the quality and accountability of education. As the bill progresses through readings, its impact on the teaching landscape will be closely watched. The establishment of the council promises to uphold high standards in education nationwide.
In establishing the National Teacher’s Council, the Bill also seeks to provide for the management of internship programme for teachers and regulation of the teaching profession.
According to the Bill, over the years, there have been problems of teacher absenteeism, ineffective teaching, low qualifications and lack of standards for teachers, attributed to the defects and gaps identified in the Education (Pre-Primary, Primary and Post-Primary) Act, 2008.
“The objective of the Bill is to establish a professional body responsible for regulating the teaching profession by consolidating the registration and licensing processes,” reads part of the Bill.
The Bill furthers aims at ensuring provision of continuous professional development of the teaching profession.
Another justification for the Bill is hinged on the decision by Cabinet to phase out the position of Directors in all Ministries, arguing that this has an effect on the legal provision for registration and licensing of teachers.
“An independent legislation on the teaching profession is intended to promote, maintain and protect the ethical standards of the teaching profession,” the Bill further reads.
Deputy Speaker, Thomas Tayebwa, referred the Bill to the Committee on Education and Sports for scrutiny.
“Ensure you give it [The Bill] enough attention, consult widely so that we resolve issues in this sector,” said Tayebwa.
Meanwhile, government fell short of tabling, for their first reading; 15 bills on Rationalisation of Government Agencies and Public Expenditure (RAPEX).
The Bills, notable among which include the National Agricultural Advisory Services (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the National Coffee (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the National Forestry and Tree Planting (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the National Information Technology Authority, Uganda (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Uganda National Roads Authority Act (Repeal) Bill, 2024 and the Uganda Road Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The Minister of Local Government, Raphael Magyezi, asked for more time, saying that government is still consulting on the bills.
“I therefore want to request that you permit us as government to defer these to the next two weeks,” Magyezi said.
RAPEX was adopted by Cabinet on 22 February 2021 in a bid to reduce wasteful public expenditure by government agencies and save more than Shs1 trillion shillings in public expenditure.
