The Ugandan Ministry of Education and Sports has introduced stricter regulations for international schools operating in the country. As of now, institutions offering both foreign and Ugandan curricula must choose a clear licensing path or meet both sets of requirements independently. This move aims to bring international schools under tighter oversight and ensure they meet specific standards.
According to Frances Atima, chief education officer in charge of education standards and quality assurance, there is no room for a school to operate as an international school while offering the national curriculum under the same registration. Schools offering both pathways must maintain separate registration and licensing arrangements. The new regulations are part of a wider effort to regulate the sector, which has seen a surge in international schools operating in the country.
The introduction of the Basic Requirements and Minimum Standards for International Schools (BRMS-IS) in May 2024 addresses a longstanding gap in regulating international schools. The standards cover various aspects, including governance, registration, licensing, staffing, curriculum, teaching, and learning. Atima stated that until the BRMS-IS were issued, there were no standards, making it difficult for inspectors to distinguish genuine international schools from local institutions using the international label.
Some international schools have been operating from residential houses while advertising themselves as international schools, charging high fees for programs similar to the national curriculum. Atima noted that parents are often duped into paying high fees, thinking their children are in an international school when they are not. The ministry is preparing a nationwide validation exercise to map the number of international schools operating in the country and assess whether they meet the required standards.
The validation exercise, expected to be completed by the end of the year, will examine schools' registration, licenses, curricula, international accreditation, staffing, facilities, and other requirements. Schools operating without the required licenses or failing to meet the standards face regulatory action, including closure. Inspectors have been instructed to identify and document all international schools, including those not listed in ministry records.
The BRMS-IS set specific teacher-learner ratios, require qualified leadership, functional boards of governors, and parent-teacher associations. Schools must also obtain an examination center number within three years or show documented progress towards obtaining one. The standards place particular emphasis on the curriculum, requiring foreign curricula to receive approval from the National Curriculum Development Centre (NCDC) and accreditation from a recognized international body.
Education consultant Gonzaga Kaswarra welcomed the new standards, describing the move as long overdue. However, he noted that gaps remain in regulating international curricula, teacher recruitment, and school fees. Kaswarra raised concerns over racial segregation in teacher recruitment and the rising cost of international education, stating that the policy does not adequately address school fees.
Key points
- International schools in Uganda must choose between local and foreign curricula or meet separate requirements.
- The new standards aim to regulate the sector and ensure international schools meet specific requirements.
- A nationwide validation exercise will be conducted to assess international schools' compliance with the new standards.
