Jinja teachers ignore strike
Sep 06, 2011
AFRAID of losing their jobs, several teachers in Jinja Municipality had by 8:00am yesterday reported for duty at their different schools. However, the turnout of pupils was low.
By JACKIE NAMBOGGA
AFRAID of losing their jobs, several teachers in Jinja Municipality had by 8:00am yesterday reported for duty at their different schools. However, the turnout of pupils was low.
In some of the schools New Vision visited, the teachers said they had only come because of the Government directive so as to sign the attendance book, but not to work.
“We have also been roll called by officials from both, the district security office and that of the Jinja town clerk. They told us that they would inspect us for the whole of this week,†the teachers, who preferred anonymity, said.
In most schools, only pupils in Primary Seven had lessons, while their counterparts in the lower classes, though inside classrooms, were either idle, murmuring or shouting.
At Narambhai Road Primary School in Jinja central division, Primary Seven pupils were being taught by Alex Ochom.
A Primary Five pupil said her class had not been taught since morning.
However, the school head teacher, Jane Bukenya, noted a low turn up as only 400 pupils had reported for the re-opening of third term, out of the 1,050 pupils in the school.
At Main Street Primary School, all the 34 teachers reported for duty, but most of them were seen seated under sheds chatting. Others sat in classrooms without teaching.
Out of the 1,305 pupils, only 500 reported to school. The head teacher, Charles Opoya, attributed the low turn up to the teacher’s threat of striking.
At Victoria Nile Primary School, the teachers were roll called and instructed to teach.
At Spire road Primary School, the head teacher, George Kulaba and his deputy, Alice Naigaga, restrained New Vision from visiting the pupils in their classrooms.
However, some teachers were seen standing under a tree, while others were reportedly seated in classes without teaching.
At Nakanyonyi Primary School in Mafubira sub-county, teachers were seen conducting lessons.
AFRAID of losing their jobs, several teachers in Jinja Municipality had by 8:00am yesterday reported for duty at their different schools. However, the turnout of pupils was low.
In some of the schools New Vision visited, the teachers said they had only come because of the Government directive so as to sign the attendance book, but not to work.
“We have also been roll called by officials from both, the district security office and that of the Jinja town clerk. They told us that they would inspect us for the whole of this week,†the teachers, who preferred anonymity, said.
In most schools, only pupils in Primary Seven had lessons, while their counterparts in the lower classes, though inside classrooms, were either idle, murmuring or shouting.
At Narambhai Road Primary School in Jinja central division, Primary Seven pupils were being taught by Alex Ochom.
A Primary Five pupil said her class had not been taught since morning.
However, the school head teacher, Jane Bukenya, noted a low turn up as only 400 pupils had reported for the re-opening of third term, out of the 1,050 pupils in the school.
At Main Street Primary School, all the 34 teachers reported for duty, but most of them were seen seated under sheds chatting. Others sat in classrooms without teaching.
Out of the 1,305 pupils, only 500 reported to school. The head teacher, Charles Opoya, attributed the low turn up to the teacher’s threat of striking.
At Victoria Nile Primary School, the teachers were roll called and instructed to teach.
At Spire road Primary School, the head teacher, George Kulaba and his deputy, Alice Naigaga, restrained New Vision from visiting the pupils in their classrooms.
However, some teachers were seen standing under a tree, while others were reportedly seated in classes without teaching.
At Nakanyonyi Primary School in Mafubira sub-county, teachers were seen conducting lessons.