FDC Rejects Centralisation of Teacher Training

The Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) has rejected a proposed government policy to centralise teacher training in a few national institutions, warning that the move could worsen Uganda’s teacher shortage and limit access to training. The proposed changes are part of a wider government reform of teacher education that has already seen training consolidated under the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE). 

The Ministry of Education and Sports has said universities will eventually relinquish teacher-training responsibilities to UNITE, arguing that differences in approaches used by universities have affected the consistency of teacher preparation. The FDC, however, says the reforms risk worsening an existing teacher shortage, particularly following the phasing out of several Primary Teachers Colleges.

According to the party, the Ministry has prepared a policy for Cabinet consideration that would create a few gazetted National Teacher Training Institutions under the ministry while phasing out the existing 33 Primary Teachers Colleges and five National Teachers Colleges. The proposed policy would also stop public and private universities, including Makerere, Kyambogo, Muni, Gulu and Busitema, from training teachers, according to the FDC.

In a media briefing on Monday, FDC Deputy Secretary for Publicity, Publication and Documentation Mulindwa Walid Lubega said the party rejects the proposed centralisation, arguing that it would reduce the number of teachers being trained at a time when the country already faces a shortage. “It will produce fewer teachers and worsen the crisis. Uganda has over 15 million learners and only about 300,000 teachers,” Walid said.

He said the pupil-to-teacher ratio in many Universal Primary Education schools is already between 1:58 and 1:60, compared with the recommended 1:45. He warned that closing dozens of colleges would further widen the gap. Walid also criticised the proposed centralisation, saying it would undermine access to teacher training, particularly for students from poor families.

“PTCs and NTCs were spread across regions to bring training closer to the people. Centralization means long distances, higher costs, and locking out poor but talented Ugandans,” he said. He further said phasing out universities that have invested heavily in teacher education would amount to a waste of existing institutional capacity. 

“Kyambogo University (ITEC) is the historical pillar of teacher training. Makerere and other universities have invested billions in infrastructure for teacher education. Phasing them out is pure wastage and destruction of institutional memory,” Walid said. On the Competence-Based Curriculum, Walid said the FDC supports the curriculum but disagrees with using it as a justification for centralising teacher training. 

“CBC requires facilitators and practical mentors, not teachers from a rushed centralized programme,” he said. He said government should instead retool tutors in CBC pedagogy and align teacher training curricula with the competence-based approach. “What is needed is retooling all tutors in CBC pedagogy, re-aligning the teacher training curriculum itself to CBC so that every trainee from Kabong to Kanungu graduates CBC-compliant, and not closing colleges,” Walid said. 

The FDC is calling on the government to abandon plans to phase out the PTCs, NTCs and university-based teacher training. Walid said the government should instead develop and enforce a uniform national curriculum aligned with CBC while retaining the existing teacher training institutions. 

The party is also calling for continuous professional development for the more than 300,000 teachers already in service and increased investment in teacher training facilities, laboratories, ICT and practical learning facilities. Walid further called for wider consultations involving teachers, universities, colleges, parents, students and local governments before the policy is adopted.

“Uniformity does not need monopoly. UNEB standardizes examinations without closing schools. The Ministry can achieve uniformity through one national curriculum and strong quality assurance,” he said. The FDC says it wants the government to reconsider the proposal, arguing that teacher training requires diversity, access and innovation rather than centralisation.