PTC heads criticise new govt policy
Enrolled. Students of St Paul Primary Teaching College in Kayunga during an out of class activity last week. PHOTO BY FRED MUZAALE
What you need to know:
- Mr Dawson Muloki, the principal of St Paul Nazigo PTC, in Kayunga District said he had expected to enrol 350 students in the first year, but ended up admitting only 198 students.
- Ms Beatrice Byakutaaga, the principal of Shimoni PTC, said if they were not in the vicinity of big urban centres such as Kampala and Kiira, they would not have realised the numbers they need. She said they enrolled 200 students instead of 250 they had anticipated.
Kayunga. A cross section of primary teachers’ colleges (PTCs) principals from the central region have criticised a new government policy introducing tough guidelines for admission to PTCs saying it is restrictive and unrealistic to some potential student teachers.
Under the new policy that was announced last year, a student intending to join any of the existing 45 primary teachers colleges must have a minimum of a credit in English and Mathematics and two principal passes in any science subjects such as Biology, Agriculture, Chemistry and Physics.
Previously, the requirement for students who wished to join PTCs was at least a pass in English and Mathematics, opening up opportunities for more eligible students who scored as low as pass seven or eight in both subjects and any grades in other subjects to be admitted.
Speaking to Daily Monitor, the principals expressed optimism that while the new policy would improve the quality of teachers they pass out; they have registered low enrolment as many students who wish to join their institutions don’t meet the required standards.
Mr Dawson Muloki, the principal of St Paul Nazigo PTC, in Kayunga District said he had expected to enrol 350 students in the first year, but ended up admitting only 198 students.
“Before the new policy was introduced, we were registering at least 400 students every year but this year our enrolment has drastically gone down,” Mr Muloki said. He added: “Because the numbers are low, we find it hard to fund development projects like construction of classrooms.”
“I think staffing in secondary schools is not balanced and this could be the reason why students fail English and science subjects. However, this new policy is going to help us get quality teachers,” Ms Teopista Wandera, the principal of Ndegeya Core PTC in Masaka District, said.
Although the college can accommodate 500 students, they currently have an enrolment of only 300 students.
Ms Beatrice Byakutaaga, the principal of Shimoni PTC, said if they were not in the vicinity of big urban centres such as Kampala and Kiira, they would not have realised the numbers they need. She said they enrolled 200 students instead of 250 they had anticipated.
