Teachers back to class
Sep 07, 2011
SEVERAL teachers in schools in Kampala have reported to work, although many of their colleagues are still divided whether to join their strike over low pay.
SEVERAL teachers in schools in Kampala have reported to work, although many of their colleagues are still divided whether to join their strike over low pay.
According to a survey conducted by the New Vision, most teachers in several schools in Makindye division appeared in classes and taught while others in neighbouring schools were present but declined to conduct lessons.
At Kitebi Primary School, the teachers turned up in class and taught while the headteacher moved around supervising them. However, the pupils’ turn up was low.
At Police Children’s school in Nsambya, most pupils had settled down for classes but teachers were not teaching them. However, some teachers in some of the classes were teaching and the situation appeared normal.
In Nakawa and Central divisions, teachers turned up at school but did not teach. Most of them were seen seated outside the classrooms. At Kiswa Primary School, the teachers appeared for class but refused to teach. Edward Etim, Primary Five pupil said that they had not attended class since new term opened on Monday.
At Bat valley Primary School, pupils were playing outside the classrooms. They said the school management had told them to study half-day.
At Police Children’s school in Ntinda and Kalinabili S.S, teachers declined to teach classrooms and pupils were seen playing during normal class time.
At Kitante Hill School, all the teachers were in classes doing their Beginning of Term exams that will last for a week. Christine Mayanja, the school’s deputy Headteacher claimed that participating in the strike would give their competitors a chance to surpass them.
At City High School and Kampala City Council Primary School in Kamwokya, teachers also reported to duty and conducted lessons.
In Lubaga division, most teachers had resumed teaching. The teachers, however, appealed to the Government to increase their pay. At Kitebi secondary school, students had started their beginning of exams under the supervision of their teachers.
Meanwhile, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) chairperson, Teopista Mayanja maintained that the teachers would only call off their strike after the government has met their demands.
She accused the government of failing to address the causes of the strike and warned that failure to provide adequate solutions to the crisis would make the situation worse.
“It is unfortunate that Government has not been able to manage the on-going negotiations with UNATU even when they knew we were entering into a critical term of the year which has led to the current confusion and uncertainty in which our schools are,†she said in a press statement.
“Such intimidating statements are uncalled for and only serve to make a bad situation worse. We equally condemn the selective victimization, harassment and intimidation of individuals over a collective action,†Mayanja said.
She said the teachers were ready to call off the industrial action if the government stopped harassing them, allowed ongoing proposals by Parliament to find money to increase their salaries.
They also want the government to set up an employment agency to handle negotiations over their demands.
The Government has threatened to sack those teachers who fail to report to their duty stations for third term. Several government officials were deployed by government to oversee the opening of the third term, after teachers announced that they would not call off their strike over their demands.
The teachers are demanding 100% salary increase which, once approved, will allow the lowest paid teacher to earn sh546,000. The Government promised a gradual salary increase starting with 44% in the next financial year but the teachers rejected it.
Contributors: Taddeo Bwambale, Brian Mayanja, Saudha Nakadama & Florence Nakaayi
According to a survey conducted by the New Vision, most teachers in several schools in Makindye division appeared in classes and taught while others in neighbouring schools were present but declined to conduct lessons.
At Kitebi Primary School, the teachers turned up in class and taught while the headteacher moved around supervising them. However, the pupils’ turn up was low.
At Police Children’s school in Nsambya, most pupils had settled down for classes but teachers were not teaching them. However, some teachers in some of the classes were teaching and the situation appeared normal.
In Nakawa and Central divisions, teachers turned up at school but did not teach. Most of them were seen seated outside the classrooms. At Kiswa Primary School, the teachers appeared for class but refused to teach. Edward Etim, Primary Five pupil said that they had not attended class since new term opened on Monday.
At Bat valley Primary School, pupils were playing outside the classrooms. They said the school management had told them to study half-day.
At Police Children’s school in Ntinda and Kalinabili S.S, teachers declined to teach classrooms and pupils were seen playing during normal class time.
At Kitante Hill School, all the teachers were in classes doing their Beginning of Term exams that will last for a week. Christine Mayanja, the school’s deputy Headteacher claimed that participating in the strike would give their competitors a chance to surpass them.
At City High School and Kampala City Council Primary School in Kamwokya, teachers also reported to duty and conducted lessons.
In Lubaga division, most teachers had resumed teaching. The teachers, however, appealed to the Government to increase their pay. At Kitebi secondary school, students had started their beginning of exams under the supervision of their teachers.
Meanwhile, the Uganda National Teachers’ Union (UNATU) chairperson, Teopista Mayanja maintained that the teachers would only call off their strike after the government has met their demands.
She accused the government of failing to address the causes of the strike and warned that failure to provide adequate solutions to the crisis would make the situation worse.
“It is unfortunate that Government has not been able to manage the on-going negotiations with UNATU even when they knew we were entering into a critical term of the year which has led to the current confusion and uncertainty in which our schools are,†she said in a press statement.
“Such intimidating statements are uncalled for and only serve to make a bad situation worse. We equally condemn the selective victimization, harassment and intimidation of individuals over a collective action,†Mayanja said.
She said the teachers were ready to call off the industrial action if the government stopped harassing them, allowed ongoing proposals by Parliament to find money to increase their salaries.
They also want the government to set up an employment agency to handle negotiations over their demands.
The Government has threatened to sack those teachers who fail to report to their duty stations for third term. Several government officials were deployed by government to oversee the opening of the third term, after teachers announced that they would not call off their strike over their demands.
The teachers are demanding 100% salary increase which, once approved, will allow the lowest paid teacher to earn sh546,000. The Government promised a gradual salary increase starting with 44% in the next financial year but the teachers rejected it.
Contributors: Taddeo Bwambale, Brian Mayanja, Saudha Nakadama & Florence Nakaayi