Teachers fail to agree on strike

By Vision Reporters

Following the teachers' umbrella body, UNATU's call for a strike regarding their pending salary increment by government, there were mixed reactions across the country as several teachers turned up in schools to teach.

This was Monday while Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda was meeting with UNATU’s executive members led by their National Chairman Margaret Rwobusahija.

At the meeting Rugunda pledged to meet all the 138 district chairpersons of UNATU on Thursday regarding pending government’s commitment to increase their salaries by 10 % in the next financial.

Rwobusahija said though the Ruganda had convinced them to call off the strike as negotiations continue, they had no mandate to do so because they might be termed as traitors.

However Rugunda said the government was committed to have an open discussion with teachers starting with Thursday’s meeting because all their grievances could be solved amicably.

NOTU president Wilson Were (L), secretary general Peter Werikhe (2nd L) and UNATU chairman Margaret Rwabashaija (2nd R) react during  a meeting  chaired by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda over the teachers' strike. The meeting took place at the President’s office  Conference room May 18, 2015. PHOTO/Norman Katende


 

Kampala - Students were left stranded after teachers failed to show up in class.

This follows the resolution by Teachers Union last week not to how up in class until government had paid their 10% salary increment as promised in 2011.

Pupils at Nakasero primary school were found leaving the school premises with all their new school term requirements  saying that they had reported at 7.00am but teachers had not shown up by mid morning.

There was also no sign teaching activity at Bat valley and Buganda Road primary schools.

One of the head teachers who requested to stay anonymous said normal school activity would not start until government fulfilled its pledge.

Gulu - Most primary schools in Gulu district opened for new term; however, When Radio Rupiny visited Vanguard Primary School Monday morning, pupils were sitting beginning of term exams and 49 of 51 teachers had turned up for the new school term.
 
Stephen Mwaka P'lugai, the deputy head teacher of Vanguard Primary school said the move by UNATU to incite teachers to go on strike had become a game, after failing to yield fruits in the past.
 
He said the strike, if upheld would affect the performance of pupils in northern Uganda since most of the schools were for UPE.
 
Mwaka said most schools in other regions are private owned and would not be affected by the strike.
 
Sister Hellen Ayaa, the head teacher Holy Rosary Primary school said classes were being conducted because they had not received official communication from UNATU.
 
He said they only saw the directive in the media.

Nwoya - The Nwoya district Inspector of Schools, Phoenix Onekalit Kidega, said that most teachers had reported for the new school term and were conducting lessons.
 
He said in Alero Primary Seven School, 26 teachers had reported for the new term by 9:00am Monday morning.
 
Onekalit however said only 160 pupils out 1000 in Alero P/S had turned up for classes adding that most schools registered poor pupil turn up.
 
He said while the demand for the teachers' pay rise was genuine, UNATU should use peaceful means to negotiate for the salary increment.  

Amuru - Amuru District Senior Education Officer Joyce Lenyero said teachers reported for the opening of the term despite low pupils' turn up. She called upon parents to send their children to school tomorrow Tuesday.
 
Lanyero said UNATU's call for a strike had yielded fruits in the past.
 
Mbarara - Just a handful of teachers heeded the UNATU call.
 
A sample tour of different schools Mbarara, including Mbarara Municipal primary school, Booma and Uganda Martyrs primary schools, it was business as usual with teaching going on.
 
Teachers there told these reporters that they respected the government's call not to stage a strike.
 
However several other schools in Mbarara town including Mbarara United Pentecostal Primary school and Madarasat Hamuza Primary school remained closed.
 
Education officer Mbarara municipality, Francis Tumwebaze warned he would to take tough action against the schools which were closed.

Amuria - Students in several primary schools remained idle as teachers were not teaching.

All the schools visited by Etop Radio between 8.00am and 1.00pm had no indication that lessons were taking place, although teachers were present.

By the time of filing this report Akore/Acowa Primary School had only 4 pupils, all of whom were P7 candidates while in Acowa Primary School, only 50 learners were present.

In Asingei Primary School, teachers were present with some few pupils but the school had no lessons while the same situation was witnessed in Kobuin Primary School and Asingei/Ajaki Primary School.

Teachers who spoke to Etop radio said they are heeding the UNATU call to strike not until they got a communication indicating otherwise.

Michael Egoiki, the district secretary UNATU Amuria branch said they will keep out of class until government commits itself to paying the 10% increment.

Soroti - There was a leisurely opening of schools for term two in Soroti town, with few teachers and pupils turning up.

In some schools visited by Etop Radio between 8.00am and 1.00pm, few teachers and pupils were present.
 
In Swaria Primary School, only one teacher had reported for duty by the time of compiling this report with few pupils in P7.

Soroti Senior Secondary school had half of its student population present by press time.

The head teacher Soroti SS, John Bosco Opio, said much as he had received UNATU’s letter calling for laying down of tools, his work was to ensure that the school opens.

He said teachers who intended to teach could do so while those who opted out would face necessary disciplinary action.

A teacher at Swaria Primary School, who preferred to remain anonymous, said much as they reported to the school, there were no lessons.

Moyo - Many children from government aided schools were left stranded as teachers never taught.

Most schools Arua One news crew visited found that  some teachers were standing idle in front of their school  while others roamed the streets.

Meanwhile schools in Arua district had big turn-ups of pupils and teachers who showed up in class.