Quality education begins with the teacher

What the report says

Nile Post published an opinion piece arguing that quality education depends on teachers being properly supported, not only on policies, classrooms or technology. The article, written by Unia Nakityo, ties the message to World Teachers’ Day and says the teacher remains central to learning because educators shape both academic progress and wider student development, including confidence, discipline and resilience.

The piece uses global and Ugandan education data to show why teacher support matters. It cites UNESCO’s 2024 Global Report on Teachers, which warns of a projected shortage of 44 million primary and secondary teachers by 2030, including 15 million in sub-Saharan Africa, and says teacher attrition has risen in recent years. For Uganda, it references the Ministry of Education and Sports’ 2025 Education Statistics Abstract, which reports 2,044,586 secondary school learners and 64,975 secondary school teachers, or roughly 31 learners per teacher.

The article also notes that the teaching profession is changing as digital tools and artificial intelligence reshape how students access knowledge. It says teachers need ongoing professional development, digital skills, better working conditions, resources, collaboration and involvement in decisions. The writer, identified as head of the 30-school network at PEAS Uganda, frames this as both a policy issue and a practical priority for improving learning outcomes.