The Government is to set up an agency to oversee the development of curriculum, training and examination of all teachers in the country.

That agency will take over from Kyambogo University, so the institution can concentrate on graduate studies, First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, said on Tuesday.

“As the university grows to focus on research, innovation, and higher degrees, the ministry has developed a National Teacher Policy (2019) that will see the creation of Uganda National Teachers Institute Education (UNTIE), which will take over the responsibility,” Mrs Museveni said.

According to the First Lady, UNTIE will be in charge of formulating curricular and training for teacher trainees in National Teachers Colleges (NTCS), primary teachers colleges and early childhood development centres.

She, however, said the university would, in the meantime continue, playing that role, until such time when UNTIE is established to ensure a smooth transition.

Mrs Museveni made the remarks as she presided over the 17th graduation ceremony of Kyambogo University in Kampala.

During the three-day ceremony that started Tuesday, a total of 9,521 students will graduate with degrees, masters and PhDs in different disciplines at the university. President Yoweri Museveni attended the event as the chief guest.

Speaking during the event, which is being held virtually due COVID-19 restrictions, Mrs. Museveni urged the country to avoid negativity due to challenges brought about by COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has introduced challenges, but also opportunities for us to be innovative, to ensure that services continue to be delivered to our stakeholders,” she said.

She congratulated the university for soldiering on, despite the pandemic, revealing that the university has been able to make important strides in its development.

She said, for example, the university was graduating students with degrees in doctor of philosophy for the second time, ‘this time in education and food science technology.’

“This is gratifying to note because one of the indicators of university growth in academic leadership and excellence is the increase in the scale of research and the number of PhD graduands, especially in science, technology and engineering. It is, therefore, my prayer that the university continues to strengthen its teaching and research capacity and produces more PhDs and masters in the forthcoming graduations,” she said.

She noted that world over, the quest for quality education is critical to human capital development that no country can develop beyond the quality of its graduates.

“I, therefore, challenge all institutions of higher learning to institute coherent internal quality assurance mechanisms aimed at developing quality programmes that meet the expectations of our graduates and their employers — nationally and internationally.”

She commended the university for allocating sh1.5b towards research capacity development, which she said has motivated staff to do more research.

The education minister said the Government expects the research to contribute to innovation, knowledge generation and support to government’s strategy for industrialisation.

President Museveni congratulated the university on reaching the 17th graduation since it was formed. He said, however, that while the university has evolved well, after its amalgamation from ‘three different training colleges’, it was important for the university to keep the core of its founding objectives as a science oriented education institution.

“My appeal to you, therefore, is that in your emphasis — while you have the whole spectrum of other courses (social sciences), please don’t lose the original mandate, which was to produce people with technology and technical skills, starting with science education,” Museveni said.

To the graduands, the President said: “You are beginning a long journey in life. The first thing you should emphasise is health. Make sure you don’t cause yourself a health problem by reckless behaviour either alcohol or loose living or obesity and get non-communicable diseases.”

The President further counselled them to continue learning to remain relevant to new technologies in the fast changing world.

“Learn continuously, don’t have the attitude of “arrivalism”.

I have arrived. I don’t need to know more. Continue learning, science technology is advancing so quickly,” he said.

Prof. John Ssebuwufu, the university’s chancellor, thanked the Government for supporting the university, especially in regard to the university’s infrastructural development.

He said through the African Development Bank, Higher Education, Science and Technology projects (HEST), the university has been able to construct new buildings and renovate existing ones.

“The new laboratories and workshops were equipped with modern equipment and machinery, which are critically important in teaching research,” he said.

Prof. Eli Katunguka, the Kyambogo University vice-chancellor, said in a bid to maintain learning at the university, amidst disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the university has heavily adopted the use of technology.

He said over 80% of the university’s staff are now fully literate in use of ICT, which has enabled them to continue serving students during the COVID-19 period.

He also said a programme to grow its own professors is ongoing and that the first group of the Graduate Fellows Scheme (GFS) programme, where the university picks the crème de la crème of students from the university, will soon produce the first fruits.

“The first cohort of 43 graduate fellows who were recruited in 2018 and have completed their master’s degrees are now employed as assistant lecturers in the various departments,” he said.

Kyambogo University was established in 2003 by the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act 2001 by merging Uganda Polytechnic Kyambogo (UPK), the Institute of Teacher Education, Kyambogo (ITEK) and the Uganda National Institute of Special Education.