GIDEON T
Physical Education (P.E.) teachers in the Kigezi sub-region have raised concerns over government neglect, citing persistent unemployment, lack of funding, and the exclusion of the subject from Advanced Level curriculum in secondary schools.
The concerns were voiced during the closure of a two-week training session for P.E. teachers held at Kigezi High School in Kabale District. Participants expressed frustration with the Ministry of Education and Sports for what they described as systemic neglect of their profession.
Andrew Bajurizi, the coordinator of Physical Education teachers in Kanungu District and a graduate of Bishop Comboni College Kambuga, said the lack of job opportunities, funding, and curriculum advancement for P.E. is hindering the development of the subject across Uganda.
“There is a big gap when it comes to recognition of Physical Education as a core subject. Many trained teachers remain unemployed, and schools lack adequate support to implement the curriculum,” Bajurizi noted.
Responding to the concerns, Juliet Muzoora, the Commissioner for Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, revealed that the government has plans to recruit more P.E. teachers to boost delivery and address staffing shortages.
She acknowledged the teachers’ appeals and encouraged them to incorporate locally available materials in their lessons to promote creativity and reduce the financial burden on schools.
Hajara Dembe, Principal Education Officer in the Department of Physical Education, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enhancing P.E. literacy. She highlighted that, under the new competence-based curriculum introduced in 2022, Physical Education is now compulsory for Senior One and Two students.
Despite these assurances, teachers called for urgent action to elevate the subject’s status, improve funding, and open up career opportunities for graduates in the field.
