In 2019, the Ugandan government introduced the National Teacher Policy, mandating that all teachers—from nursery to secondary school—must possess at least a bachelor’s degree by 2030. This ten-year transition period (2019–2029) aims to professionalize the teaching workforce and enhance the quality of education from foundational levels upward.
The policy has since stirred national debate, particularly over its impact on early childhood education (ECE)—a sector long characterized by underqualified personnel and minimal government support. With Kyambogo University as the country’s only public institution offering ECE training and most nursery schools operating privately, issues of access and affordability, especially in rural areas, remain pressing.
In response, Makerere University has unveiled two new degree programs to raise the standard of teacher training: the Bachelor of Early Childhood Education and Care, which has already been launched and is admitting students, and the Bachelor of Education in Primary Education, currently pending final approval by the University Senate and the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE).
Speaking at the 3rd East African Teacher Education Symposium, Prof. Mathias Mulumba Bwanika, Dean of the School of Education, emphasized Makerere’s commitment to the national reform agenda.
“We’ve submitted the Bachelor of Primary Education programme to the Senate for consideration. Once approved, we will begin training primary school teachers under this new curriculum,” said Prof. Mulumba.
He added that the expansion will lead to the creation of new departments, open up job opportunities, and reestablish Makerere as a leader in foundational teacher education—a role it historically played in secondary education.
Despite the policy’s urgency, Prof. Mulumba acknowledged that enrollment in the early childhood degree programme remains low. He attributed this to limited public awareness and the traditionally informal nature of pre-primary education in Uganda.
To help address these challenges, the newly established Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) has also begun admitting students into degree programs for early childhood, primary, and secondary education.
“We have received full accreditation and begun admitting learners. Those who missed the current intake will have another opportunity in August,” said Prof. Proscovia Namubiru Ssentamu, UNITE’s Deputy Vice Chancellor.
Resistance and Concerns from Stakeholders
The rollout of the degree requirement has faced considerable resistance, particularly from Parliament and ECE practitioners. The Pre-primary Teachers Training Institution Association–Uganda petitioned Parliament to halt the policy’s implementation, citing critical gaps in infrastructure and funding.
Key concerns include the absence of dedicated government funding for ECE, lack of standardized training materials, and the limited number of public institutions offering such programs—at the time, only Kyambogo University had a relevant course.
Stakeholders also warn that the high cost of pre-primary education, especially in rural settings, could deepen existing inequalities and limit access for underserved communities.
Defending the policy before Parliament’s Education Committee in August