Belgian embassy commits sh30 billion to teacher education

PIC: Finance minister, Matia Kasaija (L) with HE Verbist Hugo the Ambassador of Belgium to Uganda (R) at the Finance Ministry after signing of the  memorandum of understanding

Training of secondary school teachers in Uganda is set to improve after the embassy of Belgium represented by HE Verbist Hugo, the ambassador signed a massive investment of 8m Euros (Close to sh30b) with government.

The package, which was co-signed by Finance Minister Matia Kasaija at the Finance Ministry on Thursday, is meant to upgrade the professional competencies of trainers of teachers and teachers who will be graduating from the National teachers' Colleges of Kabale and Mubende.

While speaking at the signing, Verbist said that this assistance is part of the Belgium-Uganda partnership for the duration from 2012 to 2016.

 "Our cooperation program (IDCP) states that Belgium will, in a close partnership with the Ugandan government and its institutions support the training of secondary school teachers. Belgium believes that no school system can deliver properly trained youngsters, ready for the job market, if their teachers do not meet the standards and do not master the required knowledge and skills," he said.

Uganda's need for higher level of professionalism

In Uganda, low numbers of secondary school teachers is not a challenge.

In fact, data from the Education Ministry's Teacher Report of 2007 shows that each year, universities produce 12,000 teachers with diploma and degree level qualifications, a number well above the number of public secondary teachers needed.

However, the challenge that the report points out in the "oversupply" is the quality of teachers, which this project is aimed at improving.

Adding to the vision

The selection of the two colleges represents 40% of five major National Teacher Colleges (NTC's) that train secondary school teachers for senior one, two, three and four.

The other three NTC's are located in Muni, Kaliro and Unyama and according to the Belgian Ambassador Muni and Kaliro have been supported by Belgium since 2011 through the Teacher Training and Education project.

" Today we are expanding our ‘scope' by signing the memorandum of understanding for the colleges Mubende and Kabale," Verbist said.

Where the benefit lies

The new commitment is hinged on objectives of strengthening the management competencies and implementation capacities, providing appropriate teaching and learning environment and facilities as well as effectively applying pedagogical approaches to pre-and in-service teacher training at the NTCs and in partner schools.

Verbist expressed the embassy's trust in a union effort for the second phase of the initiative with additional support from other donors.

"We continue to count on the support of all our valued partners and collaborators. We also request for a continuation of the on-going discussions with the World Bank towards meeting the other needs of the two colleges as originally agreed with the Government of Uganda," he noted.

This contribution by the Belgian embassy will however not be the sole source of funds as Government will inject about 10% of the figure (about Ushs3b) to the project.

The Finance Minister Matia Kasaija welcomed this support as a contribution to the development of the country, in line with multiple initiatives to improve the education sector.