Teaching Without a License Could Land You in Jail
The National Teachers Bill, 2024, proposes that teaching without a degree might soon be as costly as a lavish wedding in Uganda. The bill, which was tabled in Parliament by State Minister for Higher Education John Chrysostom Muyingo, aims to tidy up the teaching profession with penalties that would make even the boldest street hawker think twice before selling fake goods.
Under the new legislation, learning institutions that hire teachers lacking a valid practicing license could face a hefty fine of UGX 14 million. That’s a sum that could buy you a couple of plot sizes in any municipality in the country or a rather extravagant wedding reception.
The bill also suggests a fine of UGX 10 million or a year in jail for individuals caught teaching after their license has been revoked. In other words, if your teaching license gets yanked, you might want to start considering alternative career paths, such as making bodas your full time gig.
The bill is an ambitious move to overhaul the education sector and aims to address what it describes as gaps in the existing Education Act of 2008. According to Muyingo, the bill seeks to create a robust framework to regulate various aspects of the teaching profession, including registration, licensing, and professional conduct.
The proposed legislation would also impose a fine of UGX 5 million or up to two years in jail for teachers caught using fake academic credentials to obtain their licenses. Imagine a situation where a teacher has to explain to their students why they’ve been absent: “Sorry, class, I had to attend a workshop on how not to forge documents.”
In addition, the bill stipulates that the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) will issue teaching certificates, valid for four years, that can only be renewed if applied for two months before expiry. The NCHE will also have the power to cancel certificates if it finds that a teacher is not fit to practice, with penalties of UGX 5 million or a five-year prison term for anyone caught impersonating a teacher.
Mr. Muyingo assured Parliament that the bill would address many issues within the profession. The National Teachers Bill seeks to be as comprehensive as a well-prepared buffet, ensuring that every aspect of teacher regulation is covered. However, critics like Aron Mugaiga from the Uganda Science Teachers Union worry that the high penalties might be misused, comparing them to a double-edged sword that could cut both ways—targeting teachers unfairly while supposedly improving the profession.
The bill also sets stringent requirements for non-Ugandans wishing to teach in Uganda, including having taught for three years in their home country and providing certificates of good conduct. This is comparable to the rigorous entry requirements of Uganda’ golf and rotary clubs—no entry without the right credentials.
