Across the country, pupils and students were on Wednesday left stranded after their Arts teachers embarked on a nationwide strike over government’s supposed discriminatory salary enhancement.
The strike comes after government has increased salaries for Science teachers in its bid to promote sciences. The Permanent Secretary of the Public Service ministry, Ms Catherine Bitarakwate, said Shs495 billion had been earmarked in the Financial Year 2022/2023 National Budget to enhance salaries for scientists.
On Tuesday 14th June 2022, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) through their spokesperson Baguma Filbert, told the arts teachers that effective Wednesday they should not go back to classrooms unless the government honours its promise to increase their salary. Many Arts teachers across the country have adhered to the directive by their Union to lay down tools until government considers their salary enhancement demands.
Most upcountry schools have completely been abandoned by the teachers and this left students stranded. Students decided to trek back home leaving the schools empty because even science teachers did not show up in some schools.
“We had to send pupils home. The teachers have not showed up
and I have only 5 science teachers here so we are sending them
home with books to read hoping the teachers return soon,” a head teacher of a
school in Moyo district revealed.
St. Noah Kampiri primary school in Mityana district was seen completely abandoned by both pupils and teachers. The headteacher, when reached for comment said the parents advised their children to remain home and help in house work instead of wasting time going to empty schools with no teachers.
At Kyewanula Primary School in Lyantonde Sub-county, pupils were seen playing outside the school premises as they couldn’t access school grounds due to it being empty. Pupils of Lugazi East Primary School were seen playing outside in the school compound as they were left stranded with no teachers when they showed up to school on 16th June.
Some pupils found themselves alone in empty classrooms in Luuka district as the teachers and pupils didn’t show up, the situation was the same at Aturukuku Primary School, where the head teacher said he was forced to dismiss learners after none of the teachers turned up for duty.
However, the situation upcountry has not affected Kampala so much as teachers reported for work in most schools.
In schools such as St Peters S.S Nsambya same for Old Kampala S.S and Gayaza High School teachers were present and learning was going on as usual.
Some of the head teachers interviewed said that even
if some of their teachers didn’t show up, they couldn’t turn their students
away and decided to keep them busy stating that they couldn’t abandon their
students.
The government has however advised the striking teachers to go back to work and be patient. Addressing a press conference at Uganda Media Centre yesterday, Public Service Minister Wilson Muruli Mukasa said the government was aware of the previous discussions with the leadership of the teachers Union and is committed to the plan of enhancing the pay of workers in a phased manner.
“We call upon Unatu to be patient as the government continues the
implementation of the pay enhancement plan, subject to availability of
resources. We, therefore, call upon all teachers to return to class and teach,”
he said.
The minister also noted that Education and Sports Minister Janet Museveni had
called for a meeting with the teachers’ Union leadership today the 17th of June at which a way
forward will be agreed upon.
He said the education sector has picked up momentum from the two-year lockdown
due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, thus giving them hope and preparing them for the
future.
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