‘A candle is not diminished when it gives its light to another.’

These words of hope and promise reverberated across the week of Uganda’s in-country training as part of IICBA’s Teacher Training and Development for Peace-building in the Horn of Africa and Surrounding Countries, supported by the Government of Japan.

Photo: Ms. Mugisha, Mr. Barugahare and Ms. Allen Mary, Mr. Deogratius and Dr. Ferede with teacher trainers at Kaliro NTC

From 14-17 November 2017, the Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) organized and facilitated trainings at Kaliro and Unyama National Teachers Colleges (NTC) reaching approximately 1,000 pre-service secondary-school teachers.

Mr. Brighton Barugahare, Assistant Commissioner, Division of Policy Analysis of Uganda’s MoES welcomed the teachers and Madame Camera Allen Mary, Resident District Coordinator of the Government of Uganda officially opened the trainings at Kaliro NTC.

Both the trainings at Unyama and Kaliro NTCs utilized the Transformative Pedagogy for Peace-building: A Guide for Teachers.  The text is grounded on a method of teaching that empowers learners and educators through discovery learning and reflection and covers the full spectrum of peace-building from conflict analysis to tools for developing negotiation and mediation competencies.

Photo: Pre-service secondary school teachers collaborate to brainstorm project ideas that address local issues

The secondary-school pre-service teachers engaged in many activities including conflict mapping, debating moral dilemmas, and reviewing assessment tools that capture growth in knowledge, skills and competencies. The ministry, taking ownership of the project, also connected peace-building to the professionalism of teachers stating that engaging with learners peacefully and respectfully was part and parcel of teachers’ code of conduct.

 Photo: A Peace club to curb tribalism at NTCs

‘We will start a peace club.’ The pre-service teachers extended their training into action with their final workshop session by writing a blueprint for a NTC wide peace club to encourage reconciliation and stopping tribalism on campus.

MoES conducted these two trainings with the support of UNESCO’s Kampala Project Office. Dr. Martha K. Ferede, Project Coordinator for IICBA visited Kaliro NTC to conduct monitoring and evaluation.  Next, Uganda MoES will organize a policy dialogue including ministry staff, government representatives, teachers and other stakeholders to discuss the opportunities and challenges for the country to integrate and make sustainable peace-building teacher training and development through policy, curriculum and practice.