ICT skills training a must for teachers
May 29, 2021
This will enable them to incorporate their teaching skills into the modern learner demands as the government rolls out the new teacher’s policy.

The acting Vice Chancellor Nkumba University, Jude Lubega addressing teachers during training in ICT skills organized at University. Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba

Eddie Ssejjoba
Journalist @New Vision
All teachers at various levels must train in Information, Computer and Technology (ICT) skills as one of the requirements for their profession to manage learners under the new normal.
According to Jude Lubega, the acting Vice-Chancellor, Nkumba University, there is an urgent need for teachers to adapt to the ICT skills.
He said this will enable them to incorporate their teaching skills into the modern learner demands as the government rolls out the new teacher’s policy.
He said that Covid-19 brought a model shift in the education system, which requires teachers and academic institutions to re-invent and retool their methods of teaching including using advanced knowledge and skills.
Speaking to teachers who attained an ICT skills training workshop at Nkumba University in Wakiso district, the vice-chancellor stated that the ministry of education and sports had rolled out the teachers’ education policy aimed at streamlining education training within the country.
“We need to keep in mind that education across the entire world has changed and it will never be the same again. You should work towards embracing the changing trends,” he stressed.
He told the teachers that the new policy aims at empowering teachers in different aspects like using ICT to deliver knowledge to their students.
“We have seen schools supporting their students who are at home through zoom, big blue button among other tools, which are aimed at supporting learning, it, therefore, requires teachers to learn these ICT skills and whoever will fail to reinvent their skills will cease to exist,” he explained.
The workshop was attended by Sarah Lubega, the deputy headteacher Makindye Secondary School, who reminded fellow teachers of the new government policy, which she said will in the long run require teachers to have a Bachelors’ degree as a minimum academic standard.
She said the teachers will also be earning the same salary, but she added that the policy will help them get fully equipped with knowledge that they can pass onto their learners.
She, however, said one of the challenges with the new policy was that not all teachers will afford to sponsor themselves for further training.
She said that paying tuition at University might be a big bottleneck to a majority of the teachers and appealed to the government to consider financially supporting them to further their education.
“We appeal to the government to consider either sponsoring teachers for further training or paying some extra allowances to those who go for further studies,” she said, adding that the allowances will help the teachers to pay tuition and look after their families while they are away.
“The training is important because we need to get extra skills to meet the needs of our learners in line with the 21st-century innovations,” she explained.
She cited examples of teachers who run personal businesses especially during holidays but will find problems to continue managing them while at the same time are studying.
One of the participants, John Robert Omoit, the headteacher Echo Hill School in Wakiso supported the new education policy and said many teachers welcomed it although they foresee financial challenges especially for teachers from rural schools.
“Many teachers in rural school earn little money as compared to their colleagues in urban areas, they will therefore need support from the government if they are to embrace upgrading of their education,” he stated.
Omoit emphasized the need for constant upgrading, saying that the world was moving so fast that teachers need to keep upgrading their academic qualifications to remain relevant in the job market.
The function was attended by Darlton Segawa, the Nkumba University Principal Academic Registrar. Participants were later awarded certificates of attendance.
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