Teachers are at the heart of quality education

What the report says

The Observer published a viewpoint marking World Teachers’ Day and arguing that teachers should be treated as central to education quality in Uganda. The piece says the daily work of teachers goes far beyond classroom instruction, describing them as mentors, role models and key figures in helping learners build knowledge, confidence, discipline and resilience. It frames the profession as essential to the country’s future and to the wider goal of better learning outcomes.

The article points to broader staffing pressures using UNESCO’s 2024 Global Report on teachers, which the publisher says projects a global shortage of 44 million primary and secondary teachers by 2030, including 15 million in sub-Saharan Africa. It also cites Uganda’s Ministry of Education and Sports 2025 Education Statistics Abstract, saying there are more than 2 million learners in secondary education and 64,975 secondary school teachers, with roughly 31 learners per teacher. The writer uses these figures to argue that teachers carry a heavy burden and need stronger support.

The commentary also notes that technology and artificial intelligence are changing education, and says teachers will need ongoing professional development in digital and AI skills. It argues that investment should include better working conditions, resources, collaboration, leadership support and teacher wellbeing. The author, identified as the head of the PEAS school network in Uganda, presents this as both a sector-wide issue and an institutional commitment.