Teaching Agriculture Practically ensures that Uganda’s future agriculture teachers and instructors have the pedagogical and technical competencies as well as the necessary relations with key actors in the agriculture sector to deliver quality, relevant agricultural education and training. Through effective teaching, these teachers and instructors ensure that students gain the skills they need to start their own businesses, get a job or pursue higher studies in agriculture. The 2.56 million EUR initial commitment to the capacity development of the National Teachers Colleges Mubende and Unyama and National Instructors College Abilonino benefits 980 student-teachers and 249 student-instructors over the period 2019-2021.

For the foreseeable future, agriculture will remain the sector that absorbs most Ugandan youth. Increasingly, secondary education and training are becoming the springboard for entry into the world of work. But to gain the skills they need to start their own agribusinesses or get a job, young people depend on competent teachers and instructors. Teaching Agriculture Practically (TAP) ensures that Uganda’s future agriculture teachers and instructors have the pedagogical and technical competencies as well as the necessary relations with key actors in the agriculture sector to deliver quality, relevant agricultural education and training. TAP strengthens the initial teacher/instructor education provided by the agriculture departments of two National Teacher Colleges, Mubende and Unyama, and of the National Instructors College Abilonino in three key areas: 1) Practice teaching in lower secondary and secondary TVET to gain pedagogical skills and confidence. 2) Agricultural production units at the colleges as spaces for learning and earning to gain technical and entrepreneurial skills and attitudes. 3) Exposure visits and internships to understand the demand side of skills for the agriculture sector and build relations with key actors in the agribusiness ecosystem. Between 2019 and 2021, VVOB provides capacity development support to the colleges. TAP is fully aligned with the priorities of the Ugandan government, as expressed in Skilling Uganda: BTVET Strategic Plan, the National Teacher Policy and the TVET Policy. The program is governed by a Steering Committee led by the Ministry of Education and Sports, with representatives from VVOB and the colleges.

VVOB - education for development; Belgium, Directorate-general Development Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid; Uganda, Ministry of Education and Sports, Teacher and Instructors Education and Training Department