Cabinet approves teacher policy

Cabinet has approved the National Teachers Policy to control moonlighting and also make it compulsory for proprietors of private schools to provide appointment letters to teachers.

Curbing absenteeism, especially within government schools, is the other element that the new policy seeks to address.

According to the government spokesperson, Ofwono Opondo, the National Teachers Policy will streamline teachers' management from pre-primary, primary and secondary school levels.

"The objective of the policy will include streamlining teachers' management for better productivity, discipline, retention and motivation," he said.

Addressing journalists on Tuesday morning at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala, Ofwono added that strengthening pre-service and in-service teacher training so as to enhance competence to effectively deliver quality learning outcomes and leadership at all levels of the education cycle, is the other objective of the policy.

"You can't be out of school for more than three days in a month without reason or excuse. There are many teachers who are sick but in actual sense, they are doing business in Owino market. The policy seeks to limit this. We are not saying that one should not have a side business, but you should not have a side business at the expense of the school," he said.

Standardisation of teacher development, qualification and practice at all levels are the other areas that the new policy will tackle.