Teaching refers to the art and science of facilitating learners’ construction of meaning and

understanding. Teaching in this sense implies that anybody can be regarded as a teacher as long
as he or she is able to inculcate identified knowledge to another individual and guides him or her
to behave in a manner that others approve of.

Frankena (1995) defines teaching as the conscious and deliberate effort by a mature or
experienced person to immature or less experienced persons with the intention that the latter will
learn or come to believe that he is taught on good grounds.

We can also define teaching as a process that facilitates learning. That is to say, teaching is the
specialized application of knowledge, skills and attributes designed to meet the educational
needs of individuals and society.

On the other hand, a profession refers to a practice or vocation requiring mastery of complete set
of knowledge and skills through formal education or practice.

Friedson (2001) defines a profession as an ideology that asserts greater commitment to doing
good work than to economic gain and to the quality rather than the economic efficiency of work.

Oyeleye, Shoremi (1985) defines a profession as an occupation that inserts an exclusive

monopoly of knowledge, having definite standards and possesses the ability to convince the
generality of the public that its services are unique.

Teaching is not a profession in Uganda today. I agree with this extent to a smaller extent as
discussed below.

Teaching is more of a vocation. Teaching as a vocation involves deriving oneself or identity

from an inner motivation. This involves a measure of determination, courage, flexibility rather
than a sense of heroism. The teachers’ calling is sustained by a sense that the work of teaching is
an activity whose meaning is larger than the sum of its parts. It is larger than carrying out
numerous duties, responsibilities and mundane or routine tasks. We do these things because they
are somehow necessary and although they are not especially rewarding, we are able to press on
and on. Most teachers in Uganda today are not teaching out of choice or inner motivation rather,
they are teaching because it was the only available option, to some “an easy way out” so they
say.
Teaching is more than self-devotion. Teaching is a form of public service to others and at the
same time, it provides a person with a sense of identity and fulfillment. To devote oneself to
teaching is to be true and commit oneself in an enduring way to a particular practice. This
includes sacrifice for the benefit of others with all the unpredictability and uncertainty that are
likely to a rise. To willingly embrace disappointments, surprises, sadness and delights. Not all
teachers in Uganda have devoted themselves to teaching. There have been cases of teachers
being absent from schools due to delayed payments and only come back to teach after the
payments have been done. As a professional, this is quite unheard of.

Teaching is not a profession because of its salary structure. That is to say, whether a teacher puts
in a lot of effort or less effort, he or she will be paid the same amount of money. Some teachers
in schools especially the ones in government schools have a tendency of missing lessons without
a proper reason which is against the professional conduct. However, this does not affect their
pay. With professionalism, every profession has a fixed salary with a minimum and maximum
pay and no school owner is supposed to pay below the fixed salary scale. This is not the case
with Ugandan schools today. This is because school owners dictate on what to pay their teachers.

Teaching is not a profession because it can be done by anyone who has not undergone
specialized training. For example parents at home teach their children how to behave in public or
around the community. That is to say parents are teachers of morals or etiquette in society, that is
to say, they teach their children how to respect elders in society, how to behave among peers.
However, they are able to impart knowledge unto their children without any form of specialized
training but they still remain teachers.

Teaching is not a profession because it is done communally. Different communities have

different ways of instilling knowledge to their people. This can be through communal work
where people are taught the idea of unity and togetherness, people are taught how to help each
other and look out for each other in the society. This does not require a professional teacher to be
carried out as it can be done by society.

I conquer that teaching is not a profession because it can be done anywhere and at any given
time. This implies that one does not require to go to a formal setting, a classroom or time table
per say to learn. This is because teacher can be done anywhere and at all times. This can be done
in homes where parents teach their children how to wash their clothes, mop the house, bathe, it
can also be carried out in church even while moving from one place to another. Teaching occurs
every day at any time. It does not have a specific time period.

I agree that teaching is a profession in Uganda today to a greater extent as discussed below.

Teaching is self-regulated by organizations which are themselves authorized by law to do so. In

Uganda, we have the Uganda National examination Board for primary and secondary level,
National Curriculum Development Centre, National Council for Higher Education all governed
by the ministry of Education and Sports. There is also UNATU, (Uganda National Teachers
Union) that helps to provide moral support to teachers and to also help to solve teacher problems
that may arise during the teaching process. It is this body that is responsible for establishing and
maintaining professional relationships between teachers and their various schools that they teach.

Teaching is a profession because it entails a licensing or certification procedure. That is to say,

those who enter in the profession can do so only by demonstrating the level of expertise and skill
required to obtain certification. Those who wish to stay within the profession can do so only by
maintaining a sufficient level of expertise and skill to keep certification. Certification or a license
to practice usually legally recognized.

Teachers are regulated by the ethical code of conduct. For any profession to be considered a
profession, there must be rules and regulations that govern it. In Uganda today, while teaching,
teachers are expected to follow the teachers’ code of conduct and anyone who defaults gets
punished either by terminating their license or automatic demotion. This helps teachers to keep
their professionalism by adhering to the ethical code of conduct.

Professions require specialized training. Therefore, teaching is a profession in Uganda today.

This is because teachers go through specialized training both theoretically and practically for a
minimum of three years. The training can be a diploma, bachelors or masters. They undergo
internship where they are supervised by professionals who ascertain to it that one has acquired
the set skills and can now venture into the field and teach. Without this specialized training one
cannot be called a professional teacher.

Teaching is a profession because of its degree of autonomy that is accorded to the professional.
Teachers have the opportunity to make decisions about the important aspects of their work. They
apply reasoned judgment in checking educational needs, prescribing and implementing
instructional programs and evaluating the progress of their learners.

In conclusion therefore, I make a stand and disagree with the statement that teaching is not a
profession in Uganda today because of my above discussed views.
References

Ballou, D.L, and Wilson, S.M.(1996). Integrity in Teaching: Recognizing the fusion of the
moral and intellectual. American Educational Research journal, 33(1), 155-192
 KYAMBOGO UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

BACHELOR OF ARTS WITH EDUCATION

COURSE CODE EPS 3202

COURSE UNIT SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION

LECTURER DR. ABENAITWE ALLEN

NAME IPOI NORAH

REG NO 18/U/AED/1331/PD

YEAR OF STUDY THREE

SEMESTER ONE

TASK INDIVIDUAL

SIGNATURE

QUESTION

Teaching is not a profession in Uganda today, discuss.