MPs must take interest in teachers
Apr 03, 2006
SIR — The role of the teaching profession in human development and its role to meet Uganda’s commitments should be stressed more, now than ever before. Many parliamentary aspirants outlined teachers’ indispensability during their campaigns. many were talking about how they are going to campaig
SIR — The role of the teaching profession in human development and its role to meet Uganda’s commitments should be stressed more, now than ever before. Many parliamentary aspirants outlined teachers’ indispensability during their campaigns. many were talking about how they are going to campaign for a reasonable income for teachers.
Now the campaigns are over, will the contribution of teachers to the social and economic development of the nation be forgotten? I want to tell the new MPs that this is the time for reflection as regards the future of the profession in the face of diverse challenges. Teaching has over the years come against a barrage of adversities from different directions.
The worst has been from our own politicians, some of whom were teachers before becoming politicians.
Poor conditions of service have cascaded into a drastic brain-drain that has seen Uganda lose a significant number of experienced teachers to other occupations like banking and business and others have left the country altogether. This migration has left behind an ever increasing number of new disgruntled teachers to meet an overwhelming demand for education.
These lamentations regarding the teaching profession are not peculiar to particular geographical locations, they apply to urban areas as well as rural ones where lack of social amenities, poor administration, low pay and exploitation by administrators has created an ever increasing disparity.
I challenge the new MPs to live up to their commitment to play their part in making quality education a reality in Uganda in view of the fact that universal secondary education is soon being ushered into the education system.
Leonard Akiiki kyamiza
Ohio, USA
Now the campaigns are over, will the contribution of teachers to the social and economic development of the nation be forgotten? I want to tell the new MPs that this is the time for reflection as regards the future of the profession in the face of diverse challenges. Teaching has over the years come against a barrage of adversities from different directions.
The worst has been from our own politicians, some of whom were teachers before becoming politicians.
Poor conditions of service have cascaded into a drastic brain-drain that has seen Uganda lose a significant number of experienced teachers to other occupations like banking and business and others have left the country altogether. This migration has left behind an ever increasing number of new disgruntled teachers to meet an overwhelming demand for education.
These lamentations regarding the teaching profession are not peculiar to particular geographical locations, they apply to urban areas as well as rural ones where lack of social amenities, poor administration, low pay and exploitation by administrators has created an ever increasing disparity.
I challenge the new MPs to live up to their commitment to play their part in making quality education a reality in Uganda in view of the fact that universal secondary education is soon being ushered into the education system.
Leonard Akiiki kyamiza
Ohio, USA