By
Robert Wanzala
The Ministry of Education and Sports has reversed its proposal to impose an internship requirement on student teachers, deciding instead to maintain the traditional school practice model. This change follows significant criticism from education experts who raised concerns about the feasibility of implementing both an internship and school practice simultaneously.
The revised decision was shared by Brighton Barugahare, the Assistant Commissioner for Policy Analysis at the Ministry of Education and Sports, during his appearance before Parliament’s Education Committee. He was responding to questions during deliberations on the National Teachers Bill, 2024.
Kedrace Turyagyenda, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education, emphasized the importance of enhancing the school practice component to ensure that teachers gain the necessary skills. “We should have comprehensive school practice that will enable teachers to come out with the prerequisite competencies to be effective educators. One practical way of achieving this is by starting school practice in the first year so that it is conducted over three years,” Turyagyenda said.
In a related discussion, Attorney General Kiryowa Kiwanuka clarified that homeschooling remains illegal under Ugandan law, which mandates formal education for all children. His comments came in response to a question from MP Molly Kamukama (Rwampara DWR), who asked why the regulation of homeschooling had not been addressed in the National Teachers Bill, 2024, despite its growing popularity in Uganda.
Kiwanuka explained that current laws require parents and guardians to enroll children in formal schools, and there are no provisions supporting homeschooling. This has sparked debate, with MP Robert Asiimwe highlighting the rising number of families choosing homeschooling. Asiimwe urged the government to consider integrating homeschooling into the formal education system rather than excluding it.
“We met several agents, and there was an issue of homeschooling. These groups are asking about their position under the Bill. Should we block our ears and focus solely on formal education, or should we also look at them?” Asiimwe asked.
The ongoing discussions surrounding the National Teachers Bill, 2024, continue to illuminate critical issues within Uganda’s education system, generating significant debate among policymakers, educators, and various stakeholders.