Teacher education symposium to address quality of teacher

Dec 07, 2018

The commissioner of Teacher Instruction Education Training (TIET), Jane Egau-Okou, says although TIET has registered several accomplishments, the question of quality remains unanswered.

EDUCATION

KAMPALA - As one way of addressing the quality of the teaching profession in Uganda, the Ministry of Education has organised the first symposium on Teacher Education slated for December 9 to 11.

The commissioner of Teacher Instruction Education Training (TIET), Jane Egau-Okou, says although TIET has registered several accomplishments, the question of quality remains unanswered.

"One of our biggest problems is leadership, especially head teachers and principals. During the symposium we shall discuss leadership and management extensively. Without supervision and good leadership, our quality will remain low," Egau says.

 eachers of akasongola district during one of the meetings Teachers of Nakasongola district during one of the meetings

 
She notes that the symposium is one of the initiatives undertaken by TIET to identify strategies to embrace Sustainable Development Goal (SDG4) on inclusive education requiring teacher to be well equipped, so as to leave no child behind.

"We want to bring back the prestige in the teaching profession. When we talk to teachers and other educationists, we shall be able to find a way to the challenges holding us back," Egau said.

The symposium to be held from December 9 to 11 at Kyambongo University under the theme; "Striving for efficiency and effectiveness in teacher education in Uganda,"

At least 500 participants comprising of teacher educators, health tutors, lecturers, head teachers and technical instructors, among others are expected to attend.

The Performance Improvement Advisor at Strengthening Education System for Improved Learning (SESIL) project Renuka Pillay revealed that the symposium will be an opportunity for educationist to share knowledge and find a way forward.

 "It is a unique opportunity for Ugandan educationists to showcase their academic and implementation success. It is an opportunity for knowledge sharing, generation and management," Pillay says adding: "The public need to be aware of the accomplishments around the country in regard to teacher education institutions like PTCs classrooms, to University lecture rooms."

Prof. Joseph Oonyu from the college of education and external studies at Makerere University says the symposium will address the needs of a teacher needed in the 21st century.

 
"Our teachers are still molded for the 19th and 20th centuries yet the world has moved on. To realise the Vision 2040,we need a different teacher who will encourage creativity and innovation," he says.

Oonyu notes that symposium is expected to bring out a paper that describes a teacher for the 21st century.

The principal of Canon Lawrence Primary Teachers College, Jojina Athieno Zipola says: "We want the world to see what we do as teachers and they show us where the gaps are. We might think we are doing things the right way yet there are better ways and could come out through this event."

The purpose of the symposium is to reflect on teacher education effectiveness and efficiency in order to identify workable solutions to improve teacher education.

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