Dr Kabagambe noted that the new programme has been brought closer to teachers in need of upgrading from certificate to diploma and from diploma levels to degree programmes which will help in improving the quality of teachers.
Uganda National Institute for
Teachers Education (UNITE) Unyama Campus has opened its inaugural semester for
the Academic year 2025/26 as a degree awarding institution.
Formerly Unyama National Teachers
College, the Campus is among five other former National Teachers Colleges
across the country that commenced postgraduate and graduate teachers programmes
in March this year through the formation of UNITE.
UNITE was created in July 2024 by
Statutory Instrument No 53 of 2024 Act Cap 262 as other degree-awarding institutions and operates as a multi-campus institution with campuses in Kaliro, Mubende,
Muni, and Kabale.
Speaking at the launch of the new
academic semester on Thursday in Gulu city, Dr Levi Kabagambe, the Institute
Secretary of UNITE, said the degree programme presents a good opportunity for
teachers to upgrade their academic qualifications.
Dr Kabagambe noted that the new
programme has been brought closer to teachers in need of upgrading from certificate
to diploma and from diploma levels to degree programmes which will help in improving
the quality of teachers.
According to him, the new
programmes will cater for teachers pursuing pre-primary, primary and secondary
education.
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The new academic semester opened on
May 10 with some students already reported at the campus. Kabagambe noted that
the students are currently undergoing two weeks induction that focuses on life
skills, and motivation among others with a view to support them along the value
chain and strengthen their decisions in the education sector.
Kabagambe noted that although
students who are directly from secondary and holding senior six certificates
are admitted, the new programme mostly targets in-service teachers with a view
to upgrading their skills.
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The second intake of students is
expected to be conducted in August this year, according to Kabagambe.
Pariyo Lot Ewaku, the Dean UNITE-Unyama
Campus noted that a total of 318 students have since reported to undertake various
diploma and degree courses in education for may intake.
According to Ewaku, out of the 318
students, 14 students are pursuing a Diploma in Education Pre-primary, 129 Diploma in Education Primary, 130 in Bachelor's of Education Primary, and seven in Bachelor's
in Education Primary direct entry.
Meanwhile, seven others are pursuing a bachelors in education pre-primary, two direct entries in a bachelors in
education secondary science direct entry, and 29 in a bachelor's in education
science secondary.
Ewaku noted that he is expecting
a prospective total of 523 students for the first cohort for the May intake.
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Dr Sarah Nantono Bunoti, a
trainer of trainers who is facilitating the induction of the first cohort of
students at UNITE Unyama Campus, said they are engaging with the students on
living a purposeful life, mindset change and attitude in the teaching
profession.
She noted that the induction
which takes two weeks will equip the students with a better understanding of
their profession before they can start undertaking the diploma and degree
programmes.
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Some of the students have lauded
the government for the new initiative which has offered them chances to
upgrade. Angelo Ocan 45, a teacher at St Peter’s Primary School Laroo has for
the past years been a grade three certificate holder from Gulu core Primary
Teachers College.
Ocan said due to high cost of
tuition, he had challenges of upgrading his academic qualification in the past but
noted that the affordable tuition and expenses UNITE Unyama Campus attracted
him to enroll for a Diploma programme in Primary education.
Melody Akello, another student
currently pursuing Bachelors in Education primary equally reiterates that she couldn’t
enroll at a private University to upgrade due to expenses until the opportunity
came at UNITE Unyama campus.
In a bid to improve the quality
of teaching and professionalize the teaching profession, the government is pushing
for the legislation of the proposed National Teachers Bill 2024 which mandates
all teachers to have a degree in education in order to teach at the levels of
pre-primary, primary and secondary education.
