Summary:
- Kiryowa was responding to a question from Irene Linda Mugisha, the Fort Portal City Woman MP, who criticized the government for imposing a Bachelor’s degree requirement for nursery school teachers without addressing the issue of fair remuneration.
KAMPALA: The Attorney General, Kiwanuka Kiryowa, has defended the proposed requirement for all teachers in Uganda to hold a Bachelor’s degree as the minimum qualification.
He stated that teachers who fail to attain this qualification within 10 years after the policy is enacted will be replaced by those who meet the requisite standards.
Kiryowa made these remarks while appearing before Parliament’s Education Committee. He was responding to concerns raised by stakeholders regarding the National Teachers Bill, 2024.
Critics, particularly educationists, questioned why nursery school teachers would be required to have degrees despite the sector being largely dominated by private institutions with minimal government support.
“And I think from the assessment that has been given and done by the Government, we aren’t lacking in this qualification. When this law was made, we didn’t have teachers with degrees, but now we do,” said Kiryowa. “Those in service now have been given a period of 10 years to transition. If they fail to meet this requirement within the stipulated time, they will be dropped, as there are qualified individuals with degrees ready to take over.”
Kiryowa was responding to a question from Irene Linda Mugisha, the Fort Portal City Woman MP, who criticized the government for imposing a Bachelor’s degree requirement for nursery school teachers without addressing the issue of fair remuneration.
Mugisha argued that government investment in pre-primary education has been negligible, leaving the sector to private institutions.
“Why is the government demanding that nursery school teachers hold Bachelor’s degrees when it hasn’t invested in this sector or set minimum pay standards to enable teachers to upgrade their qualifications?” Mugisha asked.
She suggested that instead of forcing teachers to meet the new standards, the government should implement policies that motivate them, such as linking higher qualifications to better pay.
Mugisha also raised concerns about the financial burden the new requirements would impose on parents. “By setting this standard, how much money will private institutions have to pay these teachers? This cost will inevitably be shifted to parents. Even in primary schools, we have failed to pay our teachers adequately, and now we are saying pre-primary teachers must have degrees. Don’t you think this approach is overly ambitious?” she asked.
In defense of the policy, Kiryowa emphasized that the law aims to raise the overall standard of education in Uganda. “These laws reflect the aspirations of the people of Uganda. We envision an education system that is vibrant and meets the needs of both learners and teachers. Our goal is to ensure that even pre-primary learners are taught by individuals with degrees and the requisite qualifications, as determined by the Council in consultation with the government,” he explained.
The debate over the National Teachers Bill, 2024, continues to draw mixed reactions, with stakeholders calling for a more balanced approach that prioritizes teacher welfare alongside higher educational standards.
