UNITE Pushes for Practical Reforms in Teacher Education

The Uganda National Institute for Teacher Education (UNITE) is urging stakeholders to move beyond mere policy discussions and implement practical reforms within teacher education. This emphasis on actionable change was highlighted during a pre-conference workshop for the upcoming International Teacher Education Conference (ITEC) 2026.

Professor Proscovia Namubiru Ssentamu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at UNITE, stated that effective educational reform must be evident in teacher training programs, classroom instruction, and institutional operations, not just in speeches. The workshop was designed as a hands-on environment for educators, researchers, and leaders to identify challenges and develop practical solutions.

The institute stressed the importance of context-specific reforms that address the real-world experiences of both learners and educators. Stronger collaboration among teachers, educators, policymakers, and researchers was also identified as crucial for developing sustainable solutions.

The pre-conference featured five applied clinics focusing on critical areas such as digital responsibility and AI in education, research methods, inclusive curriculum design, leadership, and gender equity. Experts from various Ugandan educational institutions, including UNITE, Kyambogo University, and the National Curriculum Development Centre, facilitated these sessions.

The goal of these clinics is to produce concrete outputs, like tools and guidelines, rather than just discussions. Participants are expected to develop actionable plans that can be implemented post-conference. This focus aligns with Uganda’s ongoing education reforms, including the push for competency-based learning and enhanced teacher preparation, incorporating digital technologies and AI.

Professor Namubiru encouraged participants to leverage the conference to build professional networks that foster continued collaboration and innovation, stating, “You should not go back the way you came. Sometimes it is these networks that give us the wings to fly.”

The main ITEC 2026 conference will further explore how teacher education can contribute to Uganda’s human capital development by equipping educators with necessary skills for a changing economy.

https://nilepost.co.ug/news/374501/unite-calls-for-practical-reforms-to-transform-teacher-education