Going forward, all aspiring teachers must hold a degree in education and complete a supervised Teacher Internship Programme designed to assess both classroom competence and professional conduct.
Uganda’s Parliament has passed the National Teachers Bill, 2024, ushering in one of the most far-reaching reforms in the country’s education sector in decades.
The legislation introduces stricter standards for entering and remaining in the teaching profession, signaling a shift toward greater accountability, professionalism, and oversight in schools nationwide.
Central to the new law is the creation of the National Teachers Council, a regulatory body that will register, license, and supervise all teachers. Under the new framework, no individual will be allowed to teach in any school—public or private—without a valid practicing license, renewable every four years.
The bill also ends what lawmakers described as an “open-entry” approach to teaching. Going forward, all aspiring teachers must hold a degree in education and complete a supervised Teacher Internship Programme designed to assess both classroom competence and professional conduct.
The reforms are intended to address persistent challenges in the sector, including teacher absenteeism, inadequate qualifications, and cases of misconduct—issues that have long undermined learning outcomes.
Parliament adopted several amendments following scrutiny by the Committee on Education and Sports, which drew on international best practices, including experiences from Ghana. Among the key changes was the expansion of the National Teachers Council to include broader representation from practicing teachers, unions, and education institutions.
Lawmakers also rejected proposals for mandatory competence exams for already trained teachers, arguing that existing training and internship systems provide sufficient assessment. Instead, the focus will shift to Continuous Professional Development, with calls for government support to help teachers upgrade their skills.
To strengthen enforcement, the law establishes a Disciplinary Committee with powers to investigate complaints and sanction teachers found guilty of professional or criminal misconduct. Penalties include suspension or revocation of teaching licenses.
The bill applies to pre-primary, primary, and secondary education, while university lecturers remain regulated under existing laws governing tertiary institutions.
Education officials say the reforms are aimed at restoring public confidence in the teaching profession and improving the quality of education across the country.
The National Teachers Bill, 2024, now awaits presidential assent before it comes into force.