TEACHER EDUCATION REFORM! Ministry Backs New Training Drive Ahead of ITEC 2026

By Evans Najuna

KAMPALA – The Ministry of Education and Sports has reaffirmed its commitment to improving teacher quality, professionalisation and training as Uganda prepares to host the International Teacher Education Conference (ITEC) 2026.

Speaking at a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre in Kampala on Monday, Ministry spokesperson Dr Dennis Mugimba said teachers remain the backbone of Uganda’s education system, warning that curriculum reforms and investments in infrastructure cannot deliver their intended results without a well-prepared and adequately supported teaching workforce.

Mugimba said Government has undertaken several reforms aimed at strengthening teacher education, including the rollout of the revised competency-based curriculum, rationalisation and upgrading of teacher training institutions, and the establishment of the Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) as a dedicated national body for teacher education.

He said the reforms have placed new demands on teachers, particularly in pedagogy, assessment and addressing the individual learning needs of pupils and students.

“Teacher education reform is not a project with a start and an end date. It is an ongoing process of learning, adaptation and investment,” Mugimba said.

According to the Ministry, Uganda has approximately 185,000 primary school teachers and more than 65,000 secondary school teachers serving over 12 million learners across the country.

Mugimba acknowledged that many teachers continue to operate under challenging conditions, including large class sizes, inadequate instructional materials, geographical isolation and learners affected by poverty and other social challenges.

He said ITEC 2026 will provide an important platform for generating evidence on how teacher preparation and professional development can be strengthened within the Ugandan context.

The Ministry is particularly interested in research on effective teacher preparation models, continuous professional development, as well as the impact of artificial intelligence and digital technologies on teaching and learning.

“We need research that is rigorous, contextually grounded and practically actionable,” Mugimba said.

He urged researchers, teacher educators, school leaders and other education practitioners to actively participate in the conference, saying its value would extend beyond formal presentations to knowledge-sharing and practical exchanges among education stakeholders.

Mugimba also called on the media to give substantive coverage to teacher education, describing it as a public-interest issue with direct implications for the lives and future of millions of Ugandan children.

The Ministry pledged to work with UNITE and other partners to translate findings and recommendations from ITEC 2026 into education policy and practice.