Govt plans new council to raise teaching standards
According to Muyingo, the proposed council will be part of a broader Government programme aimed at strengthening teacher preparation, professional development and welfare.
Acting Education Minister John C. Muyingo. (File)
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The Government is in the process of establishing a National Teacher Council to strengthen professional standards, accountability and recognition of teachers in Uganda, Acting Education Minister John C. Muyingo has said.
Muyingo said the council will provide stronger oversight of the teaching profession and contribute to improving the status of teaching as a profession.
He made the remarks on October 5, 2026, at the Media Centre in Kampala during Uganda’s commemoration of World Teachers’ Day, held under the UNESCO theme, “Standing with the Teachers, 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing its Status and Shaping our Futures.”
According to Muyingo, the proposed council will be part of a broader Government programme aimed at strengthening teacher preparation, professional development and welfare.
“The ministry is in the process of establishing a National Teacher Council,” Muyingo said.
He said the council, once established, will contribute to the professionalisation and effective oversight of the teaching profession by strengthening professional standards, recognition, accountability and the overall status of teaching as a profession.
Muyingo, whose speech was conveyed by Frances Atima, the ministry’s chief education officer in charge of education standards and quality assurance, said the Government is also rationalising teacher-training institutions to ensure that available resources are used more effectively while improving the quality, relevance and efficiency of teacher preparation.
He explained that the rationalisation programme is not simply about reducing the number of institutions, but creating a better-coordinated and adequately resourced teacher education system capable of producing teachers with the competencies required by Uganda’s changing education system.
He said UNITE is expected to strengthen initial teacher education and continuous professional development while supporting teachers throughout their careers.
“Government is committed to ensuring that UNITE has the resources, institutional capacity and professional leadership required to fulfil this mandate,” Muyingo said.
He said the Government’s reforms are necessary because teachers are increasingly expected to work in an education environment shaped by technology, new curricula and changing learner needs.
Muyingo said the implementation of the competence-based approach to education has placed new demands on teachers, requiring them to move beyond simply preparing learners for examinations.
Under the approach, he said, teachers must facilitate learning, develop learners’ critical-thinking and problem-solving abilities, integrate technology appropriately and assess competencies.
“This transition therefore requires corresponding investment in teacher preparation and continuous professional development,” he said.
Muyingo said the government will continue investing in teacher-training institutions, including UNITE, as part of its commitment to ensuring that teachers are professionally prepared and equipped to meet changing demands throughout their careers.
He cited the Teacher Effectiveness and Learner Achievement (TELA) initiative as one of the mechanisms being used to strengthen accountability and professional support.
Muyingo said TELA is intended to improve teacher attendance and time-on-task while providing management information that can support decision-making at school and local-government levels.
He stressed that TELA should not simply be viewed as a mechanism for punishing teachers.
“Its purpose is to strengthen accountability at school level, identify gaps, best practices and ensure improved learning outcomes,” he said.
The minister commended teachers and education leaders demonstrating good performance under TELA, saying their commitment shows that effective teaching and strong professional practice are possible even under difficult circumstances.
At the same time, he called on the Directorate of Education Standards and Quality Assurance, local governments and other relevant structures to support teachers and schools whose performance is poor.
He said teachers whose poor performance results from inadequate skills should receive professional support and targeted development, while negligence, absenteeism and failure to fulfil professional responsibilities should attract appropriate accountability measures.
Muyingo also urged teachers to uphold professional ethics, respect learners, attend to duty, prepare adequately, use instructional time effectively and put learners’ interests at the centre of their work.
“Your work matters, your profession matters and Uganda’s future depends in no small measure on the quality of the work you do today,” he said.