Teachers, under the Federation of East African Teachers’ Unions (FETU), have called for uniform education policies and curricula in the region, arguing that the move will ease free movement of labour. 

The move would help produce graduates who can serve anywhere in the region, especially for professions like medicine, accountancy and teaching, according to Gratian Mukoba, the chairman of FETU.

Free movement of labour is provided for under the East African (EAC) Common Market protocol.

Mukoba was speaking at a three-day regional workshop on international labour standards and the EAC common market protocol in Kigali yesterday.

"There is need to sit and discuss how teachers can be involved in the harmonisation of the education process to avoid discrepancies in standards,” said Flemming Sorenson, from DLF International.

He was backed by Jean Pierre Niyitegeka, an official of the Ministry of East African Community Affairs, who said that the harmonisation of the member countries’ educational curricula is essential to achieve unhindered movement of labour.

Better pay, better delivery 

"The intention of EAC is to have all factors of production in the region highly movable,” he said.

Wilson Sossion, the chairman of the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), said there was need to pay teachers well if they are to deliver quality education. 

KNUT last month led a four-week strike in Kenya over poor remuneration.